United States President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to impose significant new sanctions on Moscow, but only if all NATO allies agree to halt purchases of Russian oil and implement similar measures.
In a statement posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday, Trump said: “I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA.”
The president criticised what he described as the alliance’s insufficient commitment to ending the conflict in Ukraine, claiming it had been “far less than 100%”. He called the continued purchase of Russian oil by some NATO members “shocking” and argued that coordinated action would bring the war to a swift conclusion.
“If NATO does as I say, the war will end quickly, and all of those lives will be saved! If not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States,” he wrote.
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, Turkey is the third-largest buyer of Russian oil products, behind China and India. Other NATO members, including Hungary and Slovakia, also continue to import Russian oil.
Trump has previously threatened to impose further sanctions on Russia but has yet to follow through on those warnings. His latest comments come amid heightened tensions following reports that multiple Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Wednesday, prompting NATO to announce a new mission to strengthen its eastern flank.
In addition to the proposed sanctions, Trump suggested that NATO consider imposing tariffs of between 50% and 100% on China in response to its purchases of Russian petroleum. He argued that such measures, to be lifted once the war in Ukraine ends, would help pressure Moscow to cease hostilities.
“I believe that [NATO sanctions on Russia], plus NATO, as a group, placing 50% to 100% tariffs on China, to be fully withdrawn after the war with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ending this deadly, but ridiculous war,” he said.
China has strengthened its ties with Russia in recent months, including during a high-profile summit between President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.
The United States has already imposed a 25% import tax on goods from India over its purchases of Russian energy products. However, no additional tariffs have yet been placed on China for similar activities.
Trump’s remarks underline his administration’s insistence on a unified NATO approach to economic measures against Russia, as well as his willingness to extend punitive trade policies to countries outside the alliance that maintain energy ties with Moscow.
The proposals, if adopted, would mark a significant escalation in the economic pressure on both Russia and its trading partners, and could have far-reaching implications for global trade and diplomatic relations
