Trump demands NATO oil ban and China tariffs before Russia sanctions

President Donald Trump on Saturday demanded that all NATO members halt purchases of Russian oil and urged the alliance to impose steep tariffs on China as a precondition for Washington to move forward with what he called "major sanctions" on Moscow. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he was prepared to act once NATO countries had "agreed, and started, to do the same thing" and stop buying Russian crude, adding that failure to align would be "wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States."

Trump proposed tariffs of 50 to 100 percent on China, to be lifted when the war in Ukraine ends, arguing such pressure would break Beijing's influence over Moscow and hasten a negotiated settlement. His latest message did not mention India, though he has previously imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods over New Delhi's Russian oil purchases. Analysts and energy researchers have documented large flows of Russian fossil fuels to China and India in recent months, with data showing billions in imports through July.

The president's demand intensifies transatlantic debate over how far to squeeze Moscow. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen...