‘Say when’: Trump pushes NATO to sanction Russia and levy 50–100% tariffs on China

US President Donald Trump has called on NATO allies to adopt sweeping measures against China and Russia, insisting that coordinated action could bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine.

In a letter issued to NATO nations on Saturday, Trump said he was ready to impose “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.”

Criticising what he described as NATO’s lack of resolve, Trump added: “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?”

He further pressed NATO to impose punitive tariffs on Beijing: “I believe that this, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50% to 100% TARIFFS ON CHINA, to be fully withdrawn after the WAR with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR.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.”

Also Read: ‘Not an easy thing to do’: Donald Trump accepts tariffs caused ‘rift with India’

Trump, who last month imposed additional 25% tariff on Indian goods over its continued imports of Russian oil, stopped short of imposing similar penalties on China, though he warned that secondary sanctions could follow.

Framing the conflict as a failure of current leadership, Trump declared: “This is not TRUMP’S WAR (it would never have started if I was President!), it is Biden’s and Zelenskyy’s WAR. I am only here to help stop it, and save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives … If NATO does as I say, the WAR will end quickly … If not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States.”