Trump sets clear preconditions
US President Donald Trump said he is ready to impose stronger sanctions on Russia. But he demanded Nato members 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 warned of tougher measures against Moscow. Yet he has not acted when the Kremlin ignored his deadlines. He called the purchase of Russian oil “shocking.” He also suggested Nato impose tariffs of 50 to 100 percent on China. He argued that this would weaken Beijing’s “strong control” over Russia.
Trump sends 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 He said tariffs should be “fully withdrawn” after the conflict ends.
Europe reduces reliance on Russian energy
Europe’s dependence on Russian energy has already declined 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 insufficient.
His message came amid rising tensions between Nato and Moscow. More than a dozen Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Wednesday. Warsaw called the act deliberate. 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 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 nations have spent roughly €210 billion on Russian oil and gas. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air reported that much of this money has funded Moscow’s war effort. The EU has pledged to phase out imports by 2028. Washington wants faster action and offers its own energy as an alternative.
Turkey remains a key obstacle
Trump’s warning targeted Nato, not the EU. That includes Turkey, which continues to buy large amounts of Russian oil. Ankara also maintains closer ties with Moscow than any other Nato member. Convincing Turkey to halt imports may prove particularly difficult.
Trump last threatened tougher sanctions in September after Russia’s heaviest strikes on Ukraine. Asked if he was ready for a “second phase” of punishment, he said: “Yes, I am.” But he offered no further 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.
