US President Donald Trump has said he is ready to impose tougher sanctions on Russia, but only if NATO countries meet certain conditions which include stopping buying Russian oil.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, he stated he was ready to do major sanctions on Russia once NATO nations had agreed, and started, to do the same thing.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to enact tougher measures against Moscow but has failed to take any action as the Kremlin ignored his deadlines and threats of sanctions.
He described the purchases of Russian oil as shocking and also suggested that NATO apply 50 to 100% tariffs on China, claiming it would weaken its strong control over Russia.
In what he called a letter to NATO nations, Trump said: I am ready to 'go' when you are. Just say when? He emphasized that the purchase of Russian oil by some countries undermines their negotiating position with Russia.
Trump claimed that halting Russian energy purchases, combined with heavy tariffs on China, would be of great help in ending the conflict.
Europe's reliance on Russian energy has seen a dramatic decrease since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, with the EU's dependency dropping from approximately 45% in 2022 to about 13% expected this year.
The US President's remarks come during heightened tensions between NATO allies and Russia, exemplified by recent Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace, which Warsaw deemed deliberate.
Trump's appeal is significant as it includes a call to NATO countries, including Turkey, which has maintained closer ties with Moscow and is a leading purchaser of Russian oil. Convincing Ankara to halt Russian oil imports could pose a substantial challenge.
As Trump ramps up his rhetoric, he stands in line with other leaders, such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has also called for an end to energy purchases from Russia. Since 2022, European nations have spent around €210 billion on Russian oil and gas, funding the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
