Trump urges Turkey to stop buying Russian oil as Erdogan chases deal on F-35s

September 25, 2025

President Donald Trump has called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stop purchasing oil from Russia as part of broader efforts to cut off Moscow's energy funding during the ongoing Ukraine war. During their White House meeting, Trump emphasized that halting Russian oil imports would be "the best thing" Erdogan could do, while also expressing optimism about lifting US sanctions on Turkey and potentially allowing F-35 fighter jet sales. Turkey remains one of Russia's largest oil and gas customers, with data showing Russian gas flowing through Turkey to Europe increased by over 26% earlier this year.

Who is affected

Turkey and its government
Russia and its energy export sector
Ukraine, which continues to face Russian aggression
The United States and its sanctions policy
NATO countries that purchase Russian energy
Members of the US Congress, particularly the Hellenic Caucus
Israel (mentioned in relation to Gaza discussions)

What action is being taken

President Trump is urging Turkey to stop buying Russian oil and gas
Trump is considering lifting sanctions against Turkey that were implemented in 2020
Trump is discussing potential F-35 fighter jet sales to Turkey
Trump and Erdogan are holding meetings at the White House and UN General Assembly
The US Congress, specifically the Hellenic Caucus, is warning against F-35 sales to Turkey
Russia is continuing to export significant volumes of gas through Turkey to Europe

Why it matters

Russian oil and gas sales provide funding for Russia's war in Ukraine
Turkey is among Moscow's biggest customers for oil and gas exports
The volume of Russian gas reaching Europe through Turkey rose by more than 26% earlier this year
Turkey was removed from the F-35 program after purchasing S-400 missile systems from Russia
US sanctions on Turkey have strained relations between the NATO allies
Turkey's potential influence in the Russia-Ukraine conflict could be significant, as Erdogan is respected by both Zelensky and Putin according to Trump

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article, though Trump indicated that outcomes regarding F-35 sales and sanctions could be known "by the end of the day."

Read full article from source: BBC