International Desk
15 September
US President Donald Trump has urged NATO countries to take tougher measures against China and Russia in order to bring the Ukraine conflict to an end. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump said that NATO nations should impose tariffs ranging from 50 to 100 percent on China and immediately stop purchasing oil from Russia.
His comments came just a day after Washington asked G7 members to consider tariffs on countries that continue to buy Russian oil. Trump stated that he is ready to impose “major sanctions” on Moscow, but only if all NATO allies agree to act collectively and completely halt Russian oil imports. “I am prepared to enforce the toughest sanctions on Russia once every NATO country agrees to stop buying oil from Moscow,” he posted.
Meanwhile, G7 finance ministers held a meeting to discuss further restrictions on Russia and possible tariffs on nations still purchasing its oil. The US has been increasing pressure on NATO partners in recent weeks to adopt stricter energy sanctions, as efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war have seen limited progress.
Despite Trump’s repeated threats of harsh penalties, critics at home argue that his administration has failed to take decisive action. The president has been criticized for repeatedly setting deadlines for Moscow to reduce hostilities, only to allow them to pass without concrete measures.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey in August revealed that 54 percent of Americans, including one in five Republicans, believe Trump is “too close to Russia.” This perception has fueled domestic criticism of his handling of the crisis. Nonetheless, Trump’s latest remarks highlight his push for greater unity among NATO allies and tougher global economic measures to force Russia into de-escalation and move closer to ending the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.