Sat Sep 13 14:08:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump Demands NATO Halt Russian Oil Purchases, Slap Tariffs on China to End Ukraine War

**WASHINGTON D.C.** – In a forceful statement released on his Truth Social platform Saturday, US President Donald Trump called on NATO allies to completely cease purchasing Russian oil and impose steep tariffs on China, asserting that these measures are crucial to ending the war in Ukraine. Trump described the continued purchase of Russian oil by some NATO members as “shocking” and warned it “greatly weakens” their negotiating power with Moscow.

He declared his readiness to impose “major sanctions on Russia” but only if all 32 NATO nations simultaneously agree to halt oil imports and enact their own sanctions. Trump also proposed a collective NATO tariff of 50-100% on Chinese goods, aiming to weaken China’s economic influence over Russia.

Trump’s demands come amid escalating tensions following Russia’s largest-ever aerial assault on Ukraine, during which Polish and NATO forces shot down drones violating Polish airspace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has echoed Trump’s sentiments, welcoming the prospect of penalties on states continuing to do business with Moscow, calling it “not fair.”

The US President’s renewed focus on the conflict follows a recent diplomatic flurry, including a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and discussions with Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington, DC. Despite these efforts, progress towards a peace deal remains elusive.

While Trump recently imposed a 50% tariff on India for its continued purchase of Russian oil, he has yet to take similar action against China, the largest buyer of Russian oil. Critics question the practicality and potential economic consequences of implementing such sweeping measures, particularly regarding the impact on already strained global trade relationships.

Meanwhile, fighting in Ukraine continues, with Russia claiming the capture of the village of Novomykolaivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region, a claim disputed by Ukrainian military analysts. The Kremlin continues to demand Ukraine cede the Donbas region as a precondition for peace, a demand Kyiv rejects. Zelenskyy recently stated that Putin seeks to “occupy all of Ukraine” and will not stop until that goal is achieved. The situation remains volatile, and the international community watches closely as the conflict enters its fourth year.

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