New York, Sept 14: US President Donald Trump has urged all NATO members to immediately stop buying Russian oil and to jointly levy 50–100% tariffs on China, arguing the twin steps would sap Moscow’s war revenues and hasten an end to the Ukraine conflict. In a Saturday post on Truth Social, Trump called some allies’ continued Russian oil purchases “shocking” and said he is “ready to do major sanctions on Russia” once NATO commits and acts in tandem.
The push comes amid heightened tensions after reported Russian drone incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace this week, and as several NATO states notably Turkey, Hungary and Slovakia — have continued buying Russian crude or fuels despite EU restrictions on seaborne crude. Trump also floated that the China tariffs would be lifted after the war ends, contending Beijing “has a strong grip over Russia.”
Trump’s remarks follow a series of administration moves pressuring third-country buyers of Russian energy. On Aug. 6, the White House issued an Executive Order imposing an additional 25% ad valorem duty on most imports from India due to New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil—stacked on top of existing reciprocal/trade duties in some categories bringing many affected lines to a cumulative 50%. Trump acknowledged in a Fox News interview that the India action “caused a rift,” calling it “not an easy thing to do.”
Washington has simultaneously urged partners to coordinate. Reuters reported on Friday that the US called on G7 and EU allies to apply tariffs on China and India tied to their Russian oil purchases, part of a broader effort to cut Kremlin revenues. On Saturday, major US outlets, including AP/CBS, detailed Trump’s appeal for a NATO-wide halt to Russian oil and a China tariff “blitz” of 50–100%.
Trump’s Truth Social note ended with a challenge to allies
I am ready to ‘go’ when you are. Just say when.”
Sources: AP/CBS dispatches on Trump’s Truth Social letter and allied oil purchases; Reuters on US calls to G7/EU; White House Executive Order detailing India tariffs; Fox News remarks as reported by Indian media.
