WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump on Saturday called on all NATO member states to join the United States in imposing sweeping new sanctions on Russia, including an immediate halt to oil purchases from Moscow and the introduction of steep tariffs on Chinese imports.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump addressed all 32 NATO countries, urging them to stop funding Russia’s war in Ukraine by cutting off energy imports and increasing economic pressure.
“I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA,” Trump wrote.
He criticized what he described as NATO’s insufficient commitment to ending the war, saying continued purchases of Russian oil from some member states were undermining the alliance’s leverage.
“The purchase of Russian Oil, by some, has been shocking! It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia,” he added.
Trump said that once NATO commits to halting oil purchases, he is ready to implement sanctions that could severely damage Russia’s economy. He also proposed that NATO countries impose 50% to 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, to be lifted only after the war in Ukraine ends.
“This, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50% to 100% TARIFFS ON CHINA… will also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR,” Trump argued.
The former president has reportedly been pressing European allies for weeks to escalate economic measures not only against Russia but also against China and India, two of the largest buyers of Russian fossil fuels. Trump emphasized that the pressure could help shift global energy demand toward the U.S.
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, China imported more than $7.2 billion worth of Russian fossil fuels in July, while India bought approximately $3.6 billion. Turkey — a NATO member — ranks third in Russian oil purchases since 2023. Hungary also remains reliant on Russian energy, and France, Belgium, and Spain reportedly accounted for 85% of all Russian LNG imports in 2024.
While the European Union continues to provide financial aid to Ukraine, experts have noted that its energy imports from Russia still outpace its support packages — a point that has drawn criticism from Ukrainian leaders.
Following recent appeals from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Slovakia has signaled its willingness to explore alternatives to Russian oil and gas. Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed readiness to find “opportunities” for energy independence.
Trump reiterated his longstanding claim that the war in Ukraine would never have begun under his leadership.
“This is not TRUMP’S WAR (it would never have started if I was President!), it is Biden’s and Zelenskyy’s WAR,” he wrote.
“I am only here to help stop it, and save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives (7,118 lives lost last week, alone. CRAZY!),” he continued.
In closing, Trump issued a stern warning to NATO leaders:
“If NATO does as I say, the WAR will end quickly, and all of those lives will be saved! If not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States.”
