Trump sets clear demands
US President Donald Trump said he is ready 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 states had “agreed and started to do the same.”
Trump has repeatedly threatened harsher 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 the move would weaken Beijing’s “strong control” over Russia.
Trump issues direct warning to Nato
In what he described as a letter to Nato, 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 ending Russian energy imports alongside tariffs on China would help bring the war to an end. He said the tariffs should be “fully withdrawn” once the conflict concludes.
Europe reduces dependence on Russian energy
Europe’s reliance 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 statement came amid rising tensions between Nato and Moscow. More than a dozen Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Wednesday. Warsaw called it deliberate. Moscow dismissed the claim and said it had “no plans to target facilities in Poland.”
Nato boosts eastern defences
Denmark, France, and Germany have joined a Nato mission to reinforce the alliance’s eastern flank. They will deploy military units eastward. 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 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 significant volumes of Russian oil. Ankara also maintains closer ties with Moscow than any other Nato member. Persuading Turkey to halt imports may prove especially challenging.
Trump last threatened stronger 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 gave no further details. The US had already imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods. It also added a 25 percent penalty on Russian-linked transactions that continue to fund the war.
