Trump Pressures NATO to Halt Russian Oil Buys for Sanctions Push
US President Donald Trump has once again turned up the pressure on NATO allies, making it clear that tougher sanctions against Russia will only come if member states agree to stop buying Russian oil. In a message posted on his Truth Social platform, he said he was “ready to do major sanctions on Russia” but insisted NATO nations must first cut off Moscow’s energy exports.
The president described the ongoing purchases of Russian oil as “shocking,” saying they weaken the alliance’s bargaining position and undermine efforts to end the war in Ukraine. According to Trump, if NATO were united in halting energy imports, the war could be brought to a quicker close. He framed the issue as not just about energy security but also about showing unity against Russia’s aggression.
Trump went further, suggesting that NATO members impose steep tariffs—between 50% and 100%—on China, a country he argued holds a “strong grip” over Russia through trade and energy ties. He claimed such measures, combined with the halt on Russian oil purchases, would place Moscow under enough pressure to force a resolution. The tariffs, he added, should only be withdrawn once the war ends.
Also Read:This is not the first time Trump has threatened stronger action against Moscow. While he has previously floated deadlines and sanctions warnings, he has not followed through when Russia ignored them. His latest statement comes amid rising tensions after Russian drones reportedly entered Polish airspace, a move Warsaw called deliberate. NATO has responded by reinforcing its eastern flank, with Denmark, France, and Germany moving military assets closer to Russia’s borders.
The issue of energy dependency has been at the center of the war effort. Before the full-scale invasion in 2022, the EU relied on Russia for about 45% of its gas. That number has dropped significantly, closer to 13% this year, but Trump argues it is still far too high. Think tanks estimate that since the war began, European nations have spent more than €210 billion on Russian oil and gas, much of which has indirectly supported the invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also been urging Europe to stop buying any form of energy from Russia. In his words, every deal made with Moscow only prolongs the conflict. The EU has already pledged to phase out Russian energy imports by 2028, but Washington wants the timeline accelerated—and Trump is openly pressing NATO nations to align with that approach.
The challenge, however, lies with countries like Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia, which continue to import Russian supplies. Turkey, in particular, remains one of the world’s top buyers of Russian oil, complicating NATO’s ability to present a unified front. Persuading Ankara to cut ties may prove far more difficult than Trump’s rhetoric suggests.
For now, Trump has placed the ball firmly in NATO’s court, declaring: “I am ready to ‘go’ when you are. Just say when.” Whether allies will be willing to take that leap remains uncertain, but his demand signals a sharpened push for NATO unity against both Russia and its supporters abroad.
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