President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that he is ready to place “major” sanctions on Russia only if all NATO nations agree to do the same and if they stop buying Russian oil.
Trump’s post comes after he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this summer in Alaska to discuss peace negotations over Russia’s war in Ukraine, only to be left with no deal. Trump said on “Fox & Friends” Sept. 12 that his patience with Putin is “running out.”
Trump described his Sept. 13 Truth Social post as a letter to “ALL NATO NATIONS AND, THE WORLD” and noted in the post that “NATO’S commitment to WIN has been far less than 100%.”
“The purchase of Russian Oil, by some, has been shocking!” he wrote. “It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia. Anyway, I am ready to “go” when you are. Just say when?”
He also said it will “be of great help” in ending the war if NATO nations as a group place 50% to 100% tariffs on China. He said these tariffs would be “fully” withdrawn after the war ends.
“China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip,” Trump said. “This is not TRUMP’S WAR (it 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.”
Russia violated Poland’s airspace with 19 drones on Sept. 10, causing NATO fighter aircraft to scramble and shoot down the aircraft. Poland called for NATO states to convene for consultations after the incident.
Trump’s acting U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Dorothy Shea, said at a United Nations Security Council emergency briefing on Sept. 12 that the U.S. will “defend every inch of NATO territory.”
Contributing: Davis Winkie, USA TODAY
