Trump Says He'll Increase Russian Sanctions When Allies Stop Buying Oil
President Donald Trump posted over the weekend that he is prepared to levy new sanctions against Moscow if U.S. allies stop purchasing Russian oil and potentially put in place other sanctions against the country.
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“I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA," Trump wrote. "As you know, NATO’S commitment to WIN has been far less than 100%, and the purchase of Russian Oil, by some, has been shocking! It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia. Anyway, I am ready to “go” when you are. Just say when?"
He added that he believes "that this, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50% to 100% TARIFFS ON CHINA, to be fully withdrawn after the WAR with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR. China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip."
Two EU countries -- Hungary and Slovakia -- as well as NATO member Turkey, still buy Russian oil.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also said on a call of G7 finance ministers on Sept. 12 that other countries should impose secondary tariffs on Russia's oil customers. "Only with a unified effort that cuts off the revenues funding Putin’s war machine at the source will we be able to apply sufficient economic pressure to end the senseless killing," they said in a joint statement.
Reporters in Brussels asked EU spokespeople about Trump's post on Sept. 15. They declined to say whether they would consider imposing tariffs on Chinese goods to put pressure on Russia, but said the 19th sanctions package would be sent to Parliament soon.
Olof Gill said, "We are not going to comment on social media posts by the U.S. president," and he said it's European Commission policy not to talk about details of sanctions packages before they are released.
However, he called the U.S. "a crucially important partner" in the effort to put economic pressure on Russia, and said the discussions last week will inform the latest package.
Gill quoted EU President Ursula von der Leyen, who recently said: "We need more pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table, we need more sanctions."
He added, "We are particularly looking at phasing out Russian fossil fuels faster."
He reminded reporters that sanctions must be agreed to by all EU members.
A spokesperson in Beijing at China's Commerce Ministry was asked about this issue, and said, according to an informal translation of a press conference transcript, "China has always opposed economic and trade restrictions on China on the grounds of so-called 'Russia-related' [matters]. The U.S. intends to coerce relevant parties to impose 'secondary tariffs' on China on the grounds of purchasing Russian oil, which is a typical act of unilateral bullying and economic coercion, which seriously violates the consensus reached by the heads of state of China and the United States, and may have a serious impact on global trade and the stability of the production and supply chain. If any aspect harms China's interests, China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests."
Trump closed his post, saying, "If NATO does as I say, the WAR will end quickly, and all of those lives will be saved! If not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States."