US President Donald Trump has urged Turkey to stop buying oil from Russia, part of a wider drive to cut off Moscow's energy funding as the war in Ukraine rages on.
Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House, Trump said halting those imports would be 'the best thing' his Turkish counterpart could do.
The Oval Office meeting ended without any firm commitments to lift US sanctions on Turkey or to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets, though Trump expressed optimism on both issues.
Turkey has for years been prevented from buying US F-35s. In 2019, it was expelled from a programme where it produced parts for the warplane after it acquired air defence systems from Russia.
During a brief question-and-answer session alongside Erdogan in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said he would like Turkey to stop 'buying any oil from Russia while Russia continues its rampage against Ukraine'.
'The best thing he could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia,' Trump stated. 'If he did that, that would be the best thing.'
Trump believes Erdogan is respected by both Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting he could wield significant influence over the conflict.
Turkey is among Moscow's largest customers for oil and gas, with a noticeable uptick in Russian gas volumes reaching Europe via Turkey this year.
The president's remarks come following recent statements where he indicated a readiness to impose stricter sanctions on Russia if conditioned by NATO allies halting oil imports from the country.
Earlier this week at the UN General Assembly, Trump criticized NATO countries for allegedly 'funding the war against themselves' through energy purchases from Russia.
During Trump's first term, Turkey was removed from the F-35 program after it procured the S-400 missile systems from Russia. US lawmakers have since expressed concerns about Turkey's military actions impacting future F-35 sales.
Despite the complicated discussions, Trump noted that the need for certain military equipment on both sides would facilitate a potential agreement, stating, 'You'll know by the end of the day.'
The meeting between Trump and Erdogan marks their continued dialogue on crucial international issues, highlighted by their previous discussions surrounding Gaza earlier in the week.
