NextFin news, Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday, at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, urged all NATO countries to cease purchasing Russian oil and to impose major sanctions on Russia. He stated that the United States would only impose additional sanctions on Russia once all NATO members agreed and started implementing similar measures.
Trump also proposed that NATO, acting as a bloc, should impose tariffs ranging from 50% to 100% on imports from China. He argued this would weaken Beijing's economic influence over Moscow, which he described as a key factor sustaining Russia's war effort in Ukraine.
These remarks came amid ongoing international efforts to pressure Russia to end its conflict in Ukraine. The U.S. has recently intensified calls for NATO countries to tighten energy sanctions on Russia, aiming to cut off critical revenue sources for the Kremlin.
Trump's comments were made on Saturday, September 13, 2025, during the weekend at his Bedminster golf club, as reported by The Straits Times and PBS NewsHour.
European Union officials responded by emphasizing that any new sanctions would comply with EU rules and would not apply extra-territorially. EU Commission spokespersons reiterated ongoing engagement with global partners regarding sanctions enforcement against Russia.
Trump's stance also includes criticism of some NATO members, such as Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia, which continue to purchase Russian oil. Turkey, notably, has been the third-largest buyer of Russian oil since 2023.
In addition to his calls on NATO, Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on imports from India to pressure New Delhi to halt its purchases of discounted Russian crude oil, increasing total punitive duties on Indian goods to 50%. However, he has refrained from imposing additional tariffs on Chinese imports to maintain a delicate trade truce with Beijing.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers discussed further sanctions on Russia and possible tariffs on countries perceived as enabling Russia's war during a call on September 12, 2025.
Trump's proposals reflect ongoing geopolitical tensions involving energy supplies, economic sanctions, and trade policies amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Sources: The Straits Times (September 13, 2025), PBS NewsHour (September 13, 2025), The Washington Post (September 13, 2025).
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