Trump sets clear conditions
US President Donald Trump said he is ready to impose tougher sanctions on Russia. But he demanded that Nato countries first stop importing 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 deadlines. He called the purchase of Russian oil “shocking.” He also urged Nato to impose tariffs of 50 to 100 percent on China. He argued that would weaken Beijing’s “strong control” over Russia.
Trump delivers direct warning to Nato
In 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 stopping Russian energy imports combined with tariffs on China would help end the war. He said the tariffs should be “fully withdrawn” once the conflict concludes.
Europe reduces reliance on Russia
Europe’s dependence on Russian energy has fallen since the invasion began. In 2022, the EU imported about 45 percent of its gas from Russia. That number is expected to fall to around 13 percent this year. Trump’s remarks suggest he sees this reduction as insufficient.
His statement came amid heightened tensions between Nato and Moscow. More than a dozen Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Wednesday. Warsaw called it a deliberate act. Moscow denied 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 forces eastward. 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 nations 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 has pledged to phase out Russian energy by 2028. Washington wants faster progress and offers its own energy supplies as an alternative.
Turkey poses a challenge
Trump’s warning targeted Nato, not the EU. That includes Turkey, which still imports large amounts of Russian oil. Ankara also maintains closer ties with Moscow than any other Nato member. Convincing Turkey to cut supplies may prove especially difficult.
Trump last threatened harsher sanctions in September after Russia’s heaviest bombardment of Ukraine. Asked if he was ready for a “second phase” of punishment, he said: “Yes, I am.” But he gave no details. The US had previously imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods. It also applied a 25 percent penalty on Russian-linked transactions that continue to fund the war.
