US President Donald Trump will talk to the media before boarding a Marine after departing for New York, Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein |Reuters
President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he was “ready to impose massive sanctions on Russia” after all NATO countries began “doing the same thing” and suspended oil purchases from Moscow.
He also urged NATO countries to impose “50% to 100% tariffs on China,” which he said should be withdrawn after the Russian-Ukraine war is over.
“China has strong control over Russia, and even a grip, and these strong tariffs will break that grip,” Trump wrote in the Truth Social Post. He called it a text of a letter sent to all NATO countries and the “world.”
Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose sanctions on Russia over Ukraine’s invasion, but has been held back so far.
Earlier this month, the president said he was ready to move towards the second phase of Russia’s approval, but has yet to impose taxes.
Analysts previously told CNBC that Trump’s reluctance to impose strict economic penalties may be part of the country, as he hopes he can mediate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
“The second reason… If Russia is defeated, it has no choice but to go all-in with China and potentially have no choice to strengthen China’s position,” Chris Wiefer, chief executive of Moscow-based macro advisory, told CNBC earlier this month.
Trump’s Saturday Post emphasizes that he has shifted his focus to NATO countries to put pressure on Russia to end the war.
“You know, NATO’s commitment to victory is less than 100%, and Russian oil purchases were shocking!” Trump wrote in the post.
“It greatly weakens your negotiation position and negotiating power in Russia,” he continued.
Hungary and Slovakia continue to buy Russian fossil fuels, attracting criticism from Trump officials.
“We are trying to drive away all Russian gas. President Trump, the US and all EU countries want to end the Russian-Ukraine war,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday.
