President Donald Trump has once again thrust himself into the heart of the ongoing Ukraine crisis, issuing a forceful call for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to ramp up its sanctions on Russia and immediately halt all purchases of Russian oil. Speaking on September 15, 2025, Trump made it clear he is not satisfied with the current pace of action from America’s European allies, and he’s not shy about letting the world know it.
"They know it's true. They don't want to deny it. They said, 'Well, I'd rather not talk.' I said– 'What do you mean? You'd rather not. That means you're guilty, right?' Yeah, no, they agree," Trump told reporters, according to Fox News. His message was unmistakable: he believes Europe is dragging its feet, and he wants to see concrete action, not just words.
Trump’s latest demands come at a critical juncture in the war in Ukraine, as NATO nations face mounting pressure to demonstrate unity and resolve in the face of Russian aggression. According to Reuters, Trump has repeatedly insisted that he is ready to impose major secondary sanctions on Russia, but only if Europe steps up and matches America’s efforts. "Well, I'm ready to move ahead, but they have to do it. I think they will. But right now they're talking and they're not doing," Trump said. "I'm willing to do sanctions, but they're going to have to toughen up their sanctions, commensurate with what I'm doing."
But Trump didn’t stop there. In a message to NATO countries, he urged not only a tougher sanctions regime but also a complete end to purchases of Russian oil—a move he argues is essential to cutting off a vital source of funding for Moscow’s war machine. "I am ready to impose major sanctions on Russia when all NATO countries agree and start doing the same, and when all NATO countries stop buying oil from Russia," Trump declared, as reported by BBC.
Trump’s frustration with NATO’s current approach was palpable. He lambasted the alliance for what he sees as a lackluster commitment to victory, stating, "NATO’s commitment to victory has been far less than 100%, and the purchase of Russian oil by some countries was shocking! This greatly weakens your negotiating position and strength against Russia." For Trump, unity and resolve are non-negotiable: "Anyway, I am ready to act when you are ready. Just tell me when."
In an unexpected twist, Trump also proposed a new economic front in the conflict. He suggested that NATO countries collectively impose tariffs between 50% and 100% on China, aiming to weaken Beijing’s economic influence over Russia. "I believe that, in addition to NATO as a group imposing tariffs of 50% to 100% on China, which would be fully withdrawn after the war between Russia and Ukraine ends, this would be very helpful in ending this deadly—but foolish—war," Trump said, as cited by The Guardian. He elaborated further, "China has a strong, even tight grip on Russia, and these strong tariffs would break that grip."
Trump’s remarks come on the heels of his administration’s decision to slap an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, a response to New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil. Notably, no such action has been taken against China yet, highlighting the complexity of global economic relationships in the context of the Ukraine conflict.
Trump has also not shied away from criticizing his predecessors and political opponents. "This is not Trump’s war (it wouldn’t have started if I were president!), it is Biden and Zelensky’s war. I am here only to help end it and save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives (7,118 people died just last week—that’s crazy!)," he asserted, referencing recent casualty figures. Trump’s claim that the war would not have started under his administration is a familiar refrain, but one that continues to stir debate among political observers and policymakers alike.
According to CNN, Trump believes that if NATO follows his recommendations, the war will end quickly, saving countless lives. "If NATO does as I say, the war will end quickly, and all those lives will be saved! If not, you are wasting my time and the United States’ time, effort, and money," he warned. The sense of urgency in his words is hard to miss, as is his impatience with what he views as dithering and indecision among America’s allies.
Despite his tough rhetoric, Trump acknowledged the immense challenges involved in brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine. He sounded notably less confident about the prospects for a trilateral meeting between himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "Whether you call it a summit or just a get-together, it doesn't matter, but I'll probably have to get involved. They hate each other so much they almost can't talk. They're incapable of talking to each other," Trump said, offering a candid glimpse into the deep animosities at play.
On Friday, Trump’s frustration with Putin became even more apparent. In an interview with Fox & Friends, he was asked if he was losing patience with the Russian leader. His response: "It is running out fast, but it takes two sides… when Putin wanted to act, Zelensky did not want to. When Zelensky wanted to, Putin did not… we have to be very, very tough." The back-and-forth nature of the conflict, with each side seemingly unwilling to compromise when the other is ready, has left even the self-styled dealmaker-in-chief exasperated.
Trump’s critique wasn’t limited to Russia and Ukraine. He also accused Chinese President Xi Jinping of "conspiring against the United States" following China’s largest-ever military parade on September 3, an event attended by both North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Putin. Yet, in a somewhat contradictory note, Trump insisted that his personal relations with the Chinese leadership remain "very good." The balancing act between confrontation and diplomacy with China is a familiar theme in Trump’s foreign policy playbook.
As the war in Ukraine grinds on, Trump’s latest interventions have sparked debate on both sides of the Atlantic about the best path forward. Some European officials have expressed concern that a sudden halt to Russian oil imports could trigger energy shortages and economic disruption, especially as winter approaches. Others argue that only bold, unified action can force Moscow to the negotiating table and bring an end to the bloodshed.
Whatever the immediate outcome, Trump’s demands have once again put NATO’s internal divisions and strategic dilemmas front and center. With the stakes as high as ever, the world is watching to see whether America’s allies will heed the call—or chart their own course in the search for peace in Ukraine.