Trump sets preconditions for action
US President Donald Trump declared he is ready to impose stronger sanctions on Russia. But he insisted Nato members must first stop buying Russian oil. On his Truth Social platform, he wrote he was “ready for major sanctions on Russia” once Nato states had “agreed and started to do the same.”
Trump has frequently promised harsher action against Moscow. Yet he has not acted when the Kremlin ignored his warnings. He called the purchase of Russian oil “shocking.” He also pushed for tariffs of 50 to 100 percent on China. He argued such steps would weaken Beijing’s “strong control” over Russia.
Trump addresses Nato partners
In what he described as a letter to Nato nations, Trump wrote: “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 with Russia.” He argued that halting Russian energy imports combined with tariffs on China would help end the war. He said the tariffs should be “fully withdrawn” after the conflict finishes.
Europe reduces Russian energy use
Europe’s dependence on Russian energy has declined since the invasion began. In 2022, the EU imported about 45 percent of its gas from Russia. That figure is expected to fall to around 13 percent this year. Trump’s remarks suggest he considers the drop still insufficient.
His message came amid rising tensions between Nato and Russia. More than a dozen Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Wednesday. Warsaw called the incident deliberate. Moscow denied that claim and said it had “no plans to target facilities in Poland.”
Nato strengthens eastern front
Denmark, France and Germany have joined a new Nato mission. They will move forces east to bolster the alliance’s defences. At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Europe to stop Russian energy imports. In an interview, he said: “We must stop any purchase of energy from Russia. We cannot make deals if we want to stop them.”
Since 2022, European countries have spent roughly €210 billion on Russian oil and gas. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air said much of that money has funded Moscow’s war effort. The EU has pledged to end imports by 2028. Washington wants a quicker phase-out and promotes its own energy supplies as a replacement.
Trump increases focus on Turkey
Trump’s warning applied to Nato rather than the EU. That includes Turkey, which imports significant amounts of Russian oil. Ankara also maintains closer ties with Moscow than any other alliance member. Persuading Turkey to cut supplies may prove especially challenging.
Trump also threatened harsher sanctions in September after Russia’s heaviest bombardment of Ukraine. Asked if he was prepared for a “second phase” of punishment, he answered: “Yes, I am.” But he gave no details. The US had earlier imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods. It also added a 25 percent penalty on Russian-linked transactions that continue to finance the war.
