US President Donald Trump has stated 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 said 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 tougher measures against Moscow, but has so far failed to take any action when the Kremlin ignored his deadlines and threats of sanctions.
He described the purchases of Russian oil as shocking and also suggested that NATO place 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 expressed, I am ready to 'go' when you are. Just say when? He added, the purchase of Russian oil, by some, has been shocking! It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia.
Trump claimed that halting Russian energy purchases, combined with heavy tariffs on China, would significantly assist in resolving the conflict. Europe's reliance on Russian energy has fallen considerably since the onset of the invasion of Ukraine and is expected to continue decreasing.
The US president's declaration comes amid heightened tensions with NATO allies following several recent incidents involving Russian drones breaching Polish airspace. The situation has prompted a renewed military commitment from nations like Denmark, France, and Germany to strengthen their eastern flank.
While Trump is directing his immediate message towards NATO, he acknowledges that persuading countries like Turkey to reduce Russian oil imports may prove significantly more challenging.
Overall, Trump's message, echoing sentiments from various European leaders, aligns with growing calls for a united front against Russian energy dependence as the situation in Ukraine escalates.
