Former US President Donald Trump has voiced his belief that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine could be resolved if NATO countries collectively ceased purchasing oil from Russia and imposed substantial tariffs on China, ranging from 50% to 100% on its purchases of Russian petroleum. Trump expressed his views on his social media platform, stating that NATO’s commitment to the conflict has not been as steadfast as it should be, characterising the ongoing purchase of Russian oil by some NATO members as “shocking.”
In a message aimed at NATO allies, Trump suggested that these oil purchases undermine their negotiating strength against Moscow. He highlighted Turkey as a significant buyer of Russian oil, despite being a NATO member, with other countries like Hungary and Slovakia also included in that list.
There is uncertainty regarding whether Trump would take a confrontational approach towards leaders such as Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan or Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. Thus, it remains to be seen if his proposed tariffs or a complete ban on Russian oil imports would materialise. Trump’s comments come in light of rising tensions following an incident in which multiple Russian drones entered Polish airspace—a NATO ally, prompting Poland to intercept the drones. Trump, however, downplayed the seriousness of the incursion, suggesting it could have been unintentional.
While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the drone incursion as dangerous, he noted the ambiguity surrounding whether it was a deliberate act by Russia. Rubio stated that NATO’s response to the situation has been appropriate thus far.
Despite his previous promises to swiftly end the war, Trump has been perceived as hesitant to directly confront Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is particularly poignant as Congress seeks to strengthen sanctions against Russia, following Trump’s recent meeting with Putin in Alaska that yielded no significant progress towards peace.
In a separate effort, the UK has taken strides to penalise Russian oil trade, implementing a ban on vessels reportedly involved in this activity and sanctioning numerous individuals and companies, including those from China and Turkey, which have supported Russia with vital materials.
Trump concluded his post by asserting that a NATO ban on Russian oil, combined with punitive tariffs on China, would significantly contribute to ending the “deadly” conflict. He emphasised that China exerted considerable influence over Russia, and effective tariffs could disrupt this relationship, potentially leading to a resolution of the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.