US President Donald Trump on Saturday said he was willing to impose tough sanctions on Russia, but only if all Nato allies also commit to halting Russian oil imports and implementing similar measures.
A day after the Kremlin said that peace talks with Ukraine are on hold, Trump criticised some Nato countries for continuing energy purchases from Russia, calling it “shocking” and damaging to the alliance’s negotiating power.
"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," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
"As you know, 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. Anyway, I am ready to “go” when you are," he added.
He added that, alongside coordinated sanctions, Nato should impose tariffs of 50 to 100 percent on China—withdrawn only after the war in Ukraine ends—to weaken Beijing’s influence over Moscow. Trump asserted the conflict "would never have started if I was 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!). 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," he added in a post on Truth Social.
Earlier on Friday, Trump said that his patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin was wearing thin. “It's sort of running out and running out fast,” Trump said during an interview with Fox News’ “Fox and Friends” program.
"But it does take two to tango... When Putin wants to do it, Zelenskyy didn't. When Zelenskyy wanted to do it, Putin didn't... We're going to have to come down very, very strong," he added.
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