Trump issues demand to NATO before imposing 'major' sanctions on Russia

Donald Trump has taken to his Truth Social platform to declare he is prepared to impose serious sanctions on Russia, but only if all NATO countries follow suit and comply with his demands. Taking to his favourite social media platform in a post titled: "A LETTER SENT BY PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP TO ALL NATO NATIONS AND, THE WORLD," the US President set out his conditions for his partners within the alliance.

"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," he wrote. "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. Just say when?" If NATO does not act as he suggests, the Alliance is simply wasting his time, Mr Trump added.

In another one of his classic lengthy posts, the US President went on to discuss the implementation of tariffs on China. "I believe that this, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50% to 100% TARIFFS ON CHINA, to be fully withdrawn after the WAR with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR.

"China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip."

Mr Trump then reiterated his narrative that this is a war of former president Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In this Truth Social post, published at around 1pm BST on Saturday (September 13), he made no mention of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who launched the full-scale invasion over three years ago.

"I am only here to help stop it, and save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives (7,118 lives lost last week, alone. CRAZY!)," Mr Trump continued.

"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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

This message comes just a day after Mr Trump warned that his tolerance towards the Kremlin leader was wearing thin. He said his patience with Vladimir Putin is "running out and running out fast". "But it does take two to tango," Mr Trump said during an interview with Fox News on Friday (September 12), referring to Ukraine and Mr Zelensky. "It's amazing when Putin wants to do it, Zelensky didn't. When Zelensky wanted to do it, Putin didn't. Now Zelensky wants to, and Putin is a question mark... But we're going to have to come down very, very strong," he added.

On September 7, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US is ready to increase pressure on Russia, though this is contingent on similar moves by Europe: "We are in a race now between how long can the Ukrainian military hold up, versus how long can the Russian economy hold up?" he said.

"And if the US and the [EU] can come in, do more sanctions, secondary tariffs on the countries that buy Russian oil, the Russian economy will be in total collapse, and that will bring President Putin to the table."