Washington — U.S. President Donald Trump has warned NATO member states that if they immediately halt oil imports from Russia, he would be prepared to impose sweeping sanctions on Moscow.
According to international media, Trump shared the contents of a letter sent to NATO allies on his social media platform, saying that countries continuing to purchase cheap Russian oil could face tariffs of up to 100%, which would be lifted only after the war ends.
He accused China of maintaining a “tight grip” on Russia, adding that only tough trade measures could weaken this support. Trump further claimed that the ongoing war in Ukraine was “Biden and Zelensky’s war,” insisting that had he been in office, it would never have started.
Referring to what he described as the “madness” of the conflict, Trump said more than 7,000 people were killed just last week alone. He argued that NATO’s warfighting capabilities are “less than 100%,” and that some members’ oil purchases from Russia undermine the bloc’s negotiating position.
Concluding his remarks, Trump warned NATO leaders: “If you don’t act on my proposals, this will simply be a waste of America’s time, energy, and resources.”
