BLACK mobile logo

united states

Trump 'ready' to sanction Russia if Nato nations stop buying its oil

September 13, 2025

President Trump has expressed readiness to impose tougher sanctions on Russia, but has set conditions requiring NATO countries to stop purchasing Russian oil and implement similar sanctions first. Despite previous threats, Trump has not yet taken action when Russia ignored his deadlines. He characterized NATO members' continued purchase of Russian oil as "shocking" and proposed imposing substantial tariffs of 50-100% on China to weaken its influence over Russia.

Who is affected

  • NATO member countries, particularly those still purchasing Russian oil
  • Russia and its economy
  • China (through proposed tariffs)
  • Ukraine (indirectly, as the conflict continues)
  • Turkey specifically (mentioned as a major buyer of Russian oil)
  • European nations that have been purchasing Russian oil and gas

What action is being taken

  • Trump is communicating his conditions for imposing tougher sanctions on Russia
  • European nations are actively reducing their reliance on Russian energy
  • Denmark, France, and Germany are joining a new NATO mission to strengthen the alliance's eastern flank
  • The EU is working on phasing out Russian energy purchases (though their timeline extends to 2028)
  • The US has placed tariffs of 50% on goods from India, including a 25% penalty for Russian transactions

Why it matters

  • Russian oil and gas purchases have generated approximately €210 billion (£182 billion) for Russia since 2022, potentially funding the Ukraine invasion
  • Continued energy purchases from Russia weaken NATO's negotiating position according to Trump
  • The proposed combination of halting Russian energy purchases and imposing tariffs on China could help end the Ukraine conflict according to Trump
  • There are heightened tensions between NATO allies and Russia following Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace
  • European nations are working to reduce dependency on Russian energy, but at different paces

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC

Trump 'ready' to sanction Russia if Nato nations stop buying its oil