Washington, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized NATO members for continuing to buy Russian oil, saying the practice undermines the alliance’s leverage and prolongs the war in Ukraine.
In a strongly worded statement on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump described the energy purchases as “shocking” and accused NATO of showing “far less than 100% commitment” to securing victory in the conflict.
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Some NATO members continue importing Russian oil, |
“Buying Russian oil greatly weakens your negotiating position and bargaining power over Russia,” Trump wrote.
NATO Energy Dependence Under Fire. Western governments have sought to reduce Moscow’s energy revenues since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
However, some NATO members continue importing Russian oil, exposing divisions within the alliance.
Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air shows:
Turkey is now the third-largest buyer of Russian oil since 2023, behind China and India.
Hungary and Slovakia also maintain significant energy imports from Moscow. Trump argued that a total NATO ban on Russian oil – combined with tariffs on China – would “end this deadly, but ridiculous war.
” Trump Pushes for Tariffs on China and India. The president called for 50% to 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, insisting Beijing has a “strong grip” on Russia’s economy.
“China’s grip over Russia must be broken. Powerful tariffs will break that grip,” he said.
Trump also pointed to his administration’s 25% import tax on Indian goods in response to New Delhi’s continued energy trade with Moscow.
Assigning Responsibility. In his remarks, Trump blamed the war on President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while not naming Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the invasion.
This omission is likely to spark fresh debate over Trump’s positioning on Moscow and his vision for NATO’s role in the conflict. Developments on the Ground. While Trump’s comments dominated headlines, fighting in Ukraine continued:
Russia’s Defence Ministry announced its forces had seized Novomykolaivka, a village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region. A drone strike targeted an oil refinery in the Russian city of Ufa, nearly 1,400 km from the Ukrainian border. The regional governor called it a “terrorist attack.”
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