US President Donald Trump has expressed readiness to impose stricter sanctions on Russia, contingent upon NATO member countries halting their purchases of Russian oil. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he indicated that he would take action once NATO nations collectively agreed to similar measures.
Trump has previously signaled his intent to escalate sanctions against Russia but has not acted on this intention even after the Kremlin ignored his warnings. He criticized NATO countries for purchasing Russian oil, labeling it as “shocking,” and recommended implementing tariffs of 50-100% on China, suggesting this would diminish China’s influence over Russia.
In a letter directed to NATO allies, Trump stated, “I am ready to ‘go’ when you are. Just say when?” He argued that discontinuing Russian energy purchases would strengthen NATO’s negotiating position with Moscow. Trump also posited that tax measures on China should be revoked following the end of the conflict, asserting these actions would help facilitate peace.
The context of Trump’s statements coincides with declining European dependency on Russian energy, which plummeted from about 45% in 2022 to an expected 13% this year. Nevertheless, he expressed concern that this reduction is insufficient.
Tensions between NATO and Russia heightened recently, particularly after a series of Russian drones entered Polish airspace, which was deemed deliberate by Warsaw. Meanwhile, Denmark, France, and Germany have initiated a new NATO mission aimed at reinforcing the eastern flank of the alliance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also called for European nations to cease all energy transactions with Russia, aligning with the need for broader sanctions. Since 2022, Europe has spent approximately €210 billion on Russian energy, much of which has been linked to financing the invasion of Ukraine. The EU has pledged to phase out Russian energy purchases by 2028, though the US advocates for a quicker transition.
Trump’s communication was primarily directed at NATO, encompassing countries like Turkey, which has maintained significant trade ties with Russia, posing challenges in persuading it to cease such purchases. The latest threat of intensified sanctions from Trump followed Russia’s extensive bombardment of Ukraine earlier this month.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62zxp1y5lwo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss