Trump Signals Sanctions on Russia if NATO Halts Oil Purchases

(MENAFN) U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that he is ready to implement severe sanctions on Russia, contingent on all NATO members agreeing to stop purchasing Russian oil and taking similar actions.

In a post shared on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: "A LETTER SENT BY PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP TO ALL NATO NATIONS AND, THE WORLD: '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.'"

Trump also criticized NATO’s commitment to opposing Moscow, calling it "far less than 100%." He expressed astonishment at some nations' ongoing purchases of Russian oil, labeling it "shocking."

Additionally, Trump proposed that NATO jointly impose tariffs ranging from 50-100% on China, citing Beijing's significant influence over Russia. He argued that such tariffs would weaken China's grip on Russia.

"This is not TRUMP’S WAR (it would never have started if I was President!), it is Biden’s and Zelenskyy’s WAR," Trump asserted. "I am only here to help stop it, and save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives."

Earlier, Trump had warned of secondary sanctions on countries that continue to import Russian oil, should the ongoing war in Ukraine show no signs of resolution. He has already implemented a 25% tariff on goods from India, due to its ongoing Russian oil imports.

In response to the conflict, the G7 and the EU have severed trade ties with Russia and imposed a price cap on Russian oil. In turn, Russia has ramped up oil exports to nations like China and India.

The EU's 27-member bloc has committed to phasing out all Russian fossil fuel imports by 2028.

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