NATO member Turkiye has been the third-largest buyer of Russian oil after China and India, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Other alliance members buying Russian oil include Hungary and Slovakia
US President Donald Trump also said that NATO’s commitment to winning the war “has been far less than 100 per cent". File pic
United States (US) President Donald Trump has called on North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to stop purchasing Russian oil and impose strict sanctions on Moscow, while also proposing tariffs of 50 to 100 per cent on China to weaken its economic grip over Russia.
In a letter to NATO nations, Trump stated, "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."
Criticising NATO’s approach, Trump said, "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."
NATO member Turkiye has been the third-largest buyer of Russian oil after China and India, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Other alliance members buying Russian oil include Hungary and Slovakia.
Further pressing his case, Trump proposed heavy tariffs on China. "I believe that this, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50 per cent to 100 per cent TARIFFS ON CHINA, to be fully withdrawn after the WAR with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR," he wrote. "China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip."
Trump also wrote on his social media site that NATO’s commitment to winning the war “has been far less than 100%” and reiterated that he was prepared to act, stating, "Anyway, I am ready to 'go' when you are. Just say when?"
The US President has already imposed a 25 per cent import tax on goods from India for its purchases of Russian energy products.
Blaming his predecessor and Kyiv for the ongoing conflict, Trump said, "This is not TRUMP'S WAR (it would never have started if I were President!), it is Biden's and Zelenskyy's WAR. I am only here to help stop it, and save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives (7,118 lives lost last week, alone. CRAZY!)."
He added, "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."
The appeal comes at a tense moment in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with multiple Russian drones recently entering Polish airspace before being shot down by NATO ally Poland.
(With AP and ANI inputs)
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