Some NATO members have expressed reluctance to follow President Trump’s call for a complete ban on Russian oil imports as a means of achieving a peace deal for Ukraine, the Washington Times has reported.
The U.S. president issued the call during the weekend in a TruthSocial post, saying, “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.
“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?”
Trump also issued a call for tariffs on China, at between 50% and 100% to discourage the country from buying Russian crude.
Some NATO members, however, are among the top buyers of Russian oil and gas, notably Turkey, which has imported an estimated $80 billion worth of Russian crude since February 2022, according to Finland-based climate change think tank the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
In Europe, Hungary and Slovakia have been the most vocal opponents of any further squeeze on Russian oil imports. The two Central European NATO members argue such a squeeze would compromise their energy security.
“They are pushing decisions that put Slovaks and Hungarians in a difficult position,” Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a post on X last Thursday. “Without Russian oil and gas, a secure supply is impossible.”
Trump has also urged the European Union to suspend all imports of Russian energy if it wants Washington to further step up the pressure on Moscow to make peace with the Ukrainian government by hitting its energy export revenues.
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com
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