Tariffsman Trump demands NATO halt Russian oil purchases for sanctions. Trump demands NATO to stop buying Russian oil and threatens China with new tariffs.
Trump calls on all NATO countries to stop buying Russian oil, threatens 50% to 100% tariffs on China.
Trump demands NATO halt Russian oil purchases for sanctions
U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing European allies and NATO partners to stop buying Russian oil and match Washington’s tough sanctions against Moscow. His administration is calling for a united front to increase pressure and help end the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump took aim at Europe’s ongoing energy trade with Russia, saying, “Europe is buying oil from Russia. I don’t want them to buy oil.” He made it clear he’s ready to impose more sanctions—but only if other NATO countries do the same. “I’m willing to do sanctions, but they’re going to have to toughen up their sanctions commensurate with what I’m doing,” he added.
NATO Ultimatum Conditions Major Sanctions
Over the weekend, Trump took his message to Truth Social, where he laid down an ultimatum: he’ll only move forward with major sanctions once all NATO members agree to do the same and completely halt their purchases of Russian oil. He called it shocking that some allies are still buying Russian energy, arguing that it weakens the West’s bargaining power with Russia.
He also suggested that NATO should impose steep tariffs—between 50% and 100%—on China, claiming that would reduce Beijing’s economic influence over Moscow. “China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful tariffs will break that grip,” Trump said.
Treasury Urges G7 Action on Russian Oil Buyers
Behind the scenes, Trump’s team has been urging G7 partners to target major buyers of Russian oil. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told G7 finance ministers that a unified effort is essential to cut off the revenue funding Putin’s war machine.
The U.S. has already placed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, including an extra 25% penalty tied to India’s continued imports of Russian oil. Trump admitted this has caused a rift with India, but said it was necessary. So far, though, he’s held off on similar tariffs against China, as his administration continues delicate trade talks with Beijing.
Mixed European Response to U.S. Pressure
Europe’s response has been mixed. The EU has shown reluctance to adopt broad tariffs, noting that such measures require lengthy legal processes. An EU diplomat said there’s currently no discussion about tariffs on India or China. Instead, Brussels seems to prefer targeted sanctions rather than sweeping tariffs that could hurt the global economy.
China, for its part, has pushed back strongly. Foreign Minister Wang Yi repeated Beijing’s position that wars cannot solve problems and sanctions would only complicate them. He added that China doesn’t take sides in conflicts and opposes what it sees as economic coercion.
Meanwhile, several NATO members—including Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia—continue to buy Russian oil. In August alone, Turkey imported nearly €600 million worth of Russian crude.
With recent Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace raising tensions further, Trump’s ultimatum marks his most direct challenge yet to European allies over their approach to Russia’s war economy.
