Trump Urges NATO to Ban Russian Oil, Threatens 50–100% Tariffs on China/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump urged NATO allies to stop buying Russian oil and demanded 50–100% tariffs on China for its purchases of Russian petroleum. He argued such measures would weaken Moscow and help end the war in Ukraine. His remarks come as Russian drones entered NATO ally Poland’s airspace, heightening tensions.
Trump Pushes NATO Oil Ban, China Tariffs: Quick Looks
- Trump wants all NATO members to halt Russian oil imports.
- Proposed 50–100% tariffs on China for buying Russian petroleum.
- NATO countries still buying Russian oil include Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia.
- Trump said NATO’s commitment to Ukraine has been “far less than 100%.”
- Recent Russian drone incursions into Poland raised tensions within NATO.
- Trump already imposed a 25% tariff on India for Russian energy purchases.
- He claimed tariffs would “break China’s grip” over Russia.
- Congress is advancing a bill to tighten sanctions on Moscow.
- Trump blamed Biden and Zelenskyy for the war—not Putin.
- He said the measures would “END this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR.”
Trump Urges NATO to Ban Russian Oil, Threatens 50–100% Tariffs on China
Deep Look
President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric on the Russia-Ukraine war Saturday, calling on all NATO member countries to stop buying Russian oil and threatening tariffs as high as 100% on China for its role in purchasing Moscow’s petroleum.
Trump’s Social Media Post
Writing on his social platform from New Jersey, Trump said NATO’s commitment to defeating Russia has been “far less than 100%,” criticizing alliance members that continue to buy Russian energy. He described these purchases as “shocking” and a direct blow to NATO’s leverage.
“It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia,” Trump said.
Who’s Still Buying Russian Oil?
Despite Western sanctions, several countries—including NATO members—continue to import Russian crude. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air:
- Turkey is the third-largest buyer of Russian oil, after China and India.
- Hungary and Slovakia—both NATO members—also maintain Russian energy imports.
Trump argued that ending these purchases, combined with punitive tariffs on China, would cripple Russia’s economy and force an end to the war.
Tariffs on China—and Beyond
Trump proposed that NATO nations impose tariffs of 50% to 100% on China’s imports of Russian oil. These duties, he suggested, could be lifted once the war concludes.
“China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia,” Trump wrote, adding that tariffs “will break that grip.”
The president has already targeted other nations for Russian oil purchases. Earlier this year, he imposed a 25% import tax on goods from India in response to its growing energy ties with Moscow.
A War at a Tense Juncture
Trump’s call comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and NATO. In recent days, multiple Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting Poland to shoot them down. The move marked a dangerous spillover of the conflict into NATO territory, raising alarm across Europe.
At the same time, Congress is working on a bill to toughen sanctions against Moscow—an effort Trump has not yet fully endorsed but could align with his calls for more pressure.
Assigning Blame—But Not to Putin
In his post, Trump blamed the war’s continuation on his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Notably, he did not include Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose February 2022 invasion of Ukraine triggered the ongoing conflict.
Trump argued that Western leaders mishandled the war and claimed his proposed measures would “also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR.”
What’s Next for NATO?
NATO currently has 32 member states, many of which have reduced or halted Russian oil imports under EU sanctions. But Trump’s comments highlight ongoing fractures within the alliance, particularly regarding members like Hungary and Turkey, which maintain close ties to Moscow.
Whether NATO leaders will heed Trump’s call remains uncertain, but his statements put renewed spotlight on energy policy as a battlefield in the Ukraine conflict—and on the U.S. president’s willingness to confront China and other nations that prop up Russia’s oil revenues.
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