US President Donald Trump has stated he is prepared to impose tougher sanctions on Russia, conditional on NATO countries stopping their purchases of Russian oil.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, he declared himself ready to do major sanctions on Russia as long as NATO nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing.
Trump has previously threatened harsher measures against Moscow but has yet to take any concrete actions despite Moscow's disregard for his ultimata.
Trump described the purchases of Russian oil as shocking, urging NATO to impose tariffs of 50 to 100% on China to diminish its influence over Russia.
In his communication with NATO nations, he stated: I am ready to 'go' when you are. Just say when? He emphasized that buying Russian oil compromises NATO's bargaining strength with Russia.
Trump speculated that halting Russian energy imports and enforcing heavy tariffs on China could potentially help conclude the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe's reliance on Russian energy has been significantly reduced, projected to fall from 45% in 2022 to around 13% this year. However, Trump's statements imply he believes this decrease is insufficient.
This message from Trump aligns with rising tensions between NATO allies and Russia, particularly after recent incidents involving Russian drones in Polish airspace. Poland reported these incursions as intentional, while Moscow insisted there was no plan to target Polish facilities.
NATO enhancements along its eastern front have involved Denmark, France, and Germany shifting military resources to bolster defenses.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has echoed similar calls for European countries to cease all energy dealings with Russia, advocating for an end to all negotiations unless the invasion ceases.
Since 2022, European nations reportedly spent around €210bn on Russian oil and gas, substantial amounts of which likely sustained the war efforts in Ukraine. The EU has committed to completely phasing out these energy imports by 2028, a timeline the US advocates for speedy acceleration.
Trump's recent communications target NATO rather than the EU, notably including Turkey, which has maintained closer ties with Moscow, presenting a challenge to persuade Ankara to end Russian oil imports.
Previously, Trump hinted at a more punitive phase against Russia after the Kremlin's aggressive military actions in Ukraine earlier this month. When queried by the press about preparing for escalated measures, he affirmed his readiness, yet did not specify details.
