Washington: US President Donald J. Trump urged "all NATO nations and the world" on Saturday to stop buying oil from Russia as a means of helping put an end to the war in Ukraine. "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," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
According to Kuwait News Agency, President Trump emphasized that NATO's commitment to winning has been inadequate, particularly due to some nations' continued purchase of Russian oil, which he argued weakens their negotiating position and bargaining power over Russia. He expressed his readiness to act in coordination with NATO allies to impose sanctions, urging them to indicate when they are prepared to proceed.
Additionally, Trump proposed that NATO, as a group, impose significant tariffs on China, ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent, to be withdrawn after the war with Russia and Ukraine concludes. He believes that these tariffs would weaken China's influence over Russia, contributing to the resolution of the conflict. Trump criticized the current administration, attributing the ongoing war to President Biden and President Zelenskyy, and highlighted the human cost of the conflict, citing 7,118 lives lost in the past week alone.
Trump expressed his willingness to assist in ending the war and saving lives, suggesting that if NATO follows his recommendations, the conflict would end swiftly. He also warned that failure to act would result in wasted resources, both for the United States and its allies.