Donald Trump has announced his readiness to impose sanctions on Russia, contingent upon a collective agreement among NATO allies to stop purchasing Russian oil and to impose their own sanctions. In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that he would take significant actions against Russia only when all NATO nations cease buying oil from the country.
Additionally, Trump proposed that NATO members consider placing tariffs ranging from 50% to 100% on China in response to its purchases of Russian petroleum, suggesting this could contribute to ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He expressed concern that the commitment of NATO allies to countering the war has not been “100%,” describing the continued purchase of Russian oil by some member states as “shocking.”
Trump argued that if NATO follows his recommendations, the conflict could be resolved quickly, potentially saving lives. He pointed out that Turkey, ranked as the third-largest buyer of Russian oil products after China and India, is a NATO member. Other NATO countries, such as Hungary and Slovakia, also engage in purchasing Russian oil.
While Trump has issued threats of further sanctions against Russia, he has yet to take significant action. He also highlighted the need for NATO to act against China, especially following a recent summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin that resulted in strengthened ties.
Furthermore, Trump has implemented a 25% import tax on goods from India due to its purchasing of Russian energy but has not yet applied the same level of tariffs to China. His statement comes amid rising tensions following recent incidents involving Russian drones entering Polish airspace, which NATO has responded to by bolstering its eastern defenses.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/13/trump-ready-to-impose-sanctions-on-russia-if-nato-nations-stop-buying-its-oil