President Donald Trump’s new proposal on Russia sanctions is being seen as a direct test of allegiance for NATO members like Turkey, Hungary, and Slovakia, who remain significant buyers of Russian oil. The President’s condition—that all allies must halt such purchases before the U.S. acts—places these nations in a difficult position.
In a weekend Truth Social post, Trump laid out his ultimatum. The U.S. is prepared to levy “major Sanctions,” but the trigger for this action is a unified and complete oil embargo from the entire NATO bloc. This puts the spotlight directly on those members who have maintained strong energy ties with Moscow, forcing them to choose between their national economic interests and the alliance’s collective stance.
The President’s proposal didn’t stop at the alliance’s borders. He also suggested a radical plan to punish China with 50% to 100% tariffs imposed by NATO as a whole. This would penalize Beijing for propping up Russia’s economy and is designed to be a key bargaining chip to help “end this deadly, but ridiculous war.”
For countries like Turkey, the third-largest buyer of Russian oil products, and Hungary, which has been vocally resistant to energy sanctions, Trump’s plan presents a significant diplomatic and economic challenge. His all-or-nothing approach forces the alliance to confront its internal divisions over how best to handle the economic fallout of the war in Ukraine.
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