Trump sets strict conditions
US President Donald Trump said he is ready to impose tougher sanctions on Russia. But he demanded that Nato countries 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 repeatedly threatened stronger measures against Moscow. Yet he has not acted when the Kremlin ignored his warnings. He described the purchase of Russian oil as “shocking.” He also called for Nato to impose tariffs of 50 to 100 percent on China. He argued such measures would weaken Beijing’s “strong control” over Russia.
Trump delivers direct message
In what he described as a letter to Nato members, 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 claimed that halting Russian energy imports alongside tariffs on China would help end the war. He said the tariffs should be “fully withdrawn” once the conflict ends.
Europe reduces Russian energy reliance
Europe’s dependence on Russian energy has already fallen since Moscow’s 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 remarks suggest he considers the reduction still insufficient.
His message came amid heightened tensions between Nato and Moscow. More than a dozen Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Wednesday. Warsaw called the act deliberate. Moscow dismissed the claim and said it had “no plans to target facilities in Poland.”
Nato strengthens eastern defences
Denmark, France, and Germany have joined a Nato mission to reinforce the alliance’s eastern flank. They will move military units eastward. Meanwhile, 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 countries have spent roughly €210 billion on Russian oil and gas. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air said much of this has funded Moscow’s war effort. The EU pledged to phase out imports by 2028. Washington wants faster action and offers its own energy supplies as an alternative.
Turkey remains a critical obstacle
Trump’s warning targeted Nato, not the EU. That includes Turkey, which continues to buy large volumes of Russian oil. Ankara also maintains closer ties with Moscow than any other Nato member. Persuading Turkey to halt imports may prove especially difficult.
Trump last threatened harsher sanctions in September after Russia’s heaviest attacks on Ukraine. Asked if he was ready for a “second phase” of punishment, he said: “Yes, I am.” But he offered no details. The US had already imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods. It also applied a 25 percent penalty on Russian-linked transactions that continue to fund the war.
