Trump demands NATO countries stop buying Russian oil
US President Donald Trump says he believes the Russia-Ukraine war would end if all NATO countries stopped buying oil from Russia and placed tariffs on China of 50 per cent to 100 per cent for its purchases of Russian petroleum.
Trump posted on his social media site that NATO’s commitment to winning the war “has been far less” than 100 per cent and the purchase of Russian oil by some members of the alliance is “shocking.”
As if speaking with NATO members, he said on Saturday: “It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia”.
US President Donald Trump has demanded NATO countries stop buying Russian oil and place tariffs on China. (Pool via AP) (AP)
Since 2023, NATO member Turkey has been the third largest buyer of Russian oil, after China and India, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
Other members of the 32-state alliance involved in purchasing Russian oil include Hungary and Slovakia.
It’s unclear whether Trump would want to directly confront Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. That leaves uncertain whether the threats might actually lead to new tariffs or a ban on Russian oil purchases.
Trump’s post arrives after last Wednesday’s flight of multiple Russian drones into Poland, an escalatory move by Russia as it was entering the airspace of a NATO ally. Poland shot down the drones, yet Trump played down the severity of the incursion and Russia’s motives by saying it “could have been a mistake.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that the drone incursion was “unacceptable and unfortunate and dangerous” as he judged NATO’s response so far to be appropriate. Still, Rubio said it was unclear if the drones were intentionally sent to Poland.
Police and Military Police secure parts of a damaged UAV shot down by Polish authorities at a site in Wohyn, Poland. (AP)
While Trump as a presidential candidate promised to end the war quickly, he has yet to hit the pressure points needed to end the violence and has at times been seen as reluctant to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Congress is currently trying to get the US president to back a bill toughening sanctions, after Trump last month hosted Putin in Alaska for talks that failed to deliver on progress toward peace.
Britain on Friday also took steps to penalise the trading of Russian oil, including a ban on 70 vessels allegedly used in its transportation. The UK also sanctioned 30 individuals and companies, including businesses based in China and Turkey, that have supplied Russia with electronics, chemicals, explosives and other weapons components.
Trump in his post on Saturday said a NATO ban on Russian oil plus tariffs on China would “also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR.”
The president said that NATO members should put the 50 per cent to 100 per cent tariffs on China and withdraw them if the war that launched with Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine ends.
“China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia,” he posted, and powerful tariffs “will break that grip.”
