US President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that the purchasing of Russian oil by some NATO allies was "shocking", and said it "greatly weakens" NATO's negotiating position and bargaining power over Russia.
ADVERTISEMENT
US President Donald Trump has called on all NATO countries to stop buying Russian oil, and threatened China with tariffs ranging from 50% to 100% due to its Russian petroleum purchases.
"China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday.
He added that he believed NATO’s commitment to winning the war "has been far less than 100%" and that the purchase of Russian oil by some of the alliance's members is "shocking".
Addressing other NATO nations, the US leader said "it greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia."
Since 2023, NATO member Turkey has been the third largest buyer of Russian oil after non-NATO members China and India. Other NATO member states that purchased Russian oil include Hungary and Slovakia.
The US President has repeatedly promised he could bring an end to the war, although he has yet to hit the pressure points to end Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine. He has nevertheless remained adament that the invasion would not have taken place if he were president at the time it began, and believes he can stop it.
"This is not Trump's war (it would never have started if I was president), it is Biden’s and Zelenskyy’s war. I am only here to help stop it, and save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives," he wrote on Truth Social.
Last month, Trump hosted his counterpart Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska for talks that failed to result in progress towards peace and a lasting ceasefire.
Trump's post comes days after Russia launched multiple drones into Poland's airspace, which triggered the activation of Article 4 of the NATO treaty.
Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty provides for the possibility of joint consultations between NATO allies "whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened".
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has since announced an "Eastern Sentry" programme, which aims to deter further Russian incursions and show solidarity with Poland.