Trump mentioned on his social media platform that NATO’s dedication to achieving victory in the war “has not been complete,” and he finds it “shocking” that some alliance members continue to buy Russian oil.

As if speaking with NATO members, he said on Saturday: “It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia”.

Although Trump, as a presidential candidate, pledged to swiftly resolve the conflict, he has yet to exert the necessary pressure to halt the violence and has occasionally appeared hesitant to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Currently, Congress is attempting to persuade the US president to support legislation that would impose stricter sanctions, following a meeting last month between Trump and Putin in Alaska that did not lead to any significant progress toward peace.

On Friday, Britain implemented measures to penalize the trading of Russian oil, including banning 70 vessels suspected of being used for its transport. The UK also sanctioned 30 individuals and companies, including those based in China and Turkey, that have provided Russia with electronics, chemicals, explosives, and other military components.

In his Saturday post, Trump stated that a NATO ban on Russian oil, coupled with tariffs on China, would be “extremely beneficial in ENDING this deadly, yet ABSURD, WAR.”

The president said that NATO members should put the 50 per cent to 100 per cent tariffs on China and withdraw them if the war that launched with Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine ends.

“China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia,” he posted, and powerful tariffs “will break that grip.”