Trump outlines his conditions
US President Donald Trump declared he is prepared to impose tougher sanctions on Russia. But he demanded Nato countries first stop buying Russian oil. On his Truth Social platform, he wrote he was “ready for major sanctions on Russia” once Nato members had “agreed and started to do the same.”
Trump has often pledged stronger action against Moscow. Yet he has not followed through when the Kremlin ignored his warnings. He called the purchase of Russian oil “shocking.” He also suggested tariffs of 50 to 100 percent on China. He argued such measures would weaken Beijing’s “strong control” over Russia.
Trump sends message to Nato states
In what he described as a letter to Nato, Trump said: “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 claimed that stopping Russian energy imports combined with heavy tariffs on China would speed up the end of the war. He added that tariffs should be “fully withdrawn” once the conflict ends.
Europe lowers reliance on Russia
Europe’s dependence on Russian energy has fallen since Moscow’s full-scale invasion. In 2022, the EU imported about 45 percent of its gas from Russia. That figure is expected to drop to around 13 percent this year. Trump’s comments suggest he sees the reduction as insufficient.
His message came amid renewed tensions between Nato and Russia. More than a dozen Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Wednesday. Warsaw said the move was deliberate. Moscow dismissed the charge and insisted it had “no plans to target facilities in Poland.”
Nato moves forces east
Denmark, France and Germany have joined a new Nato mission. They will move military assets to strengthen the eastern flank of the alliance. At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Europe to halt 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 nations have spent about €210 billion on Russian oil and gas. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air reported that much of this money has supported Moscow’s war effort. The EU has pledged to phase out Russian energy imports by 2028. Washington wants a faster timeline, partly to boost its own exports.
Trump focuses on Turkey
Trump’s message targeted Nato rather than the EU. That includes Turkey, a major buyer of Russian oil. Ankara also keeps closer ties with Moscow than any other alliance member. Convincing Turkey to cut off Russian supplies may be especially difficult.
Trump last threatened tougher sanctions in September after Russia launched its heaviest bombardment on Ukraine. Asked if he was ready for a “second phase” of punishment, he answered: “Yes, I am.” But he gave no details. The US had already imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods. It also added a 25 percent penalty for transactions with Russia that help fund the war.
