Donald Trump is turning up the pressure on NATO allies and China, declaring that the war in Ukraine could end if Western nations stopped buying Russian oil and slapped Beijing with tariffs as high as 100 per cent.
In a fiery post on his social media platform, the U.S. president blasted NATO’s commitment to the conflict, saying it has been “far less than 100 per cent,” and called the continued purchase of Russian oil by some members “shocking.” He argued that buying Russian petroleum weakens the alliance’s negotiating power with Moscow and prolongs the war.
Trump’s comments singled out NATO members still importing Russian oil — notably Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia — and urged them to join what he called an “all-in” effort to cripple Russia’s revenue streams. He argued that a coordinated oil boycott, combined with massive tariffs on China for purchasing Russian oil, would force Moscow to the negotiating table and “END this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR.”
China and India are Russia’s two largest oil customers, and Trump claimed that Beijing’s influence over Moscow gives it leverage that NATO can exploit with aggressive trade measures. He proposed tariffs between 50 per cent and 100 per cent on Chinese imports, to be lifted only once Russia ends its invasion of Ukraine.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions after multiple Russian drones entered NATO airspace in Poland before being shot down, raising fears of a broader escalation. Trump also used the moment to double down on his America First message, blaming Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the ongoing conflict, while notably leaving Russian President Vladimir Putin off the list.
Trump has already imposed a 25 per cent import tax on Indian goods over its continued purchase of Russian energy. With Congress working on a sanctions bill of its own, Trump’s latest threat signals a willingness to use tariffs as a foreign policy weapon — potentially risking major trade blowback if enacted.