U.S. President Donald Trump has stated he is ready to impose major sanctions on Russia once all NATO members stop buying Russian oil. He emphasised the need for a collective Western response to increase economic pressure on Moscow amid the Ukraine conflict.
In a Truth Social post, Trump called for “major sanctions” against Russia but insisted they should begin only after NATO countries unite in halting Russian oil imports. He also urged imposing tariffs of 50% to 100% on Chinese goods, to be removed after the war ends, arguing this would weaken China’s influence over Russia.
“China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip,” Trump stated in the post.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent welcomed the move, saying that cutting off funds for Putin’s war machine requires unified economic measures. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the international community to reject excuses for avoiding sanctions and reduce Russian oil use to diminish Moscow’s war capacity.
Trump’s hesitation to fully sanction Russia has been attributed partly to hopes of brokering peace. Analysts warn that a total Russian defeat may drive Moscow closer to China, strengthening Beijing’s global position.
Trump criticised some NATO members, such as Hungary and Slovakia, for continuing to buy Russian oil, which he says weakens the alliance’s stance. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called on these countries to end their reliance on Russian gas, stressing the shared goal of ending the war.
While the West has enacted sanctions, divisions remain over phasing out Russian energy supplies, complicating efforts to present a unified front. Russia’s ability to reroute exports to non-Western countries has also lessened the sanctions’ impact.
Trump’s recent statements reflect a renewed push for greater NATO unity and stronger economic pressure on Russia, indicating an effort to tighten the Western response to Moscow’s aggression.