Donald Trump delivered a startling warning to NATO allies regarding the delay in his efforts to conclude the Russia-Ukraine conflict, cautioning them not to ‘waste my time’ in a fiery social media message.
On Saturday morning, Trump criticized NATO allies on Truth Social for purchasing oil from Russia while opposing Vladimir Putin’s invasion, claiming it ‘significantly undermines your negotiating stance, and your influence, over Russia’.
‘I am prepared to implement major Sanctions on Russia once all NATO Nations have agreed and begun to do likewise, and once all NATO Nations CEASE BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA,’ Trump declared.
‘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!’
He then proposed an ambitious plan for the US and NATO to levy tariffs of 50 percent to 100 percent on China, ‘to be completely removed once the conflict with Russia and Ukraine concludes.’
He wrote that this, ‘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.’
This announcement follows days of heightened tensions in Europe after Polish airspace witnessed the downing of Russian drones allegedly directed at a NATO base supplying Ukraine.
Donald Trump issued a striking warning to NATO allies over hindering his Russia-Ukraine war negotiations by purchasing oil from Vladimir Putin
Trump warned NATO allies that buying Russian oil is weakening their negotiating position
Trump’s post is not the first time that he has threatened to impose hefty sanctions on Moscow, and he has previously floated extra sanctions on countries buying its oil.
The president has also imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing its continued imports of Russian oil, but has not yet taken similar action against China.
Trump has made ending conflicts around the world a central pillar of his foreign policy this year, and ended his Truth Social rebuke with an insistence that, ‘this is not TRUMP’S WAR.’
‘(It would never have started if I was President!),’ Trump wrote.
‘It is Biden’s and Zelenskyy’s WAR. I am only here to help stop it, and save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives (7,118 lives lost last week, alone. CRAZY!).
‘If NATO does as I say, the WAR will end quickly, and all of those lives will be saved! If not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States.
‘Thank you for your attention to this matter!’
Trump’s threat against China for its support of Russia in its conflict with Ukraine comes weeks after he blasted the two leaders – and Kim Jong Un – for ‘conspiring against the United States of America’ as they assembled to watch a massive military parade in Beijing
Trump’s threat against China for its support of Russia in the conflict comes weeks after he blasted the two leaders – and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un – for ‘conspiring against the United States of America’ as they assembled to watch a massive military parade in Beijing.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted the parade at the start of the month to mark 80 years since WWII, showcasing China’s newest high grade weapons – including a laser which experts fear could burn out electronics or even blind pilots.
The summit was billed as an alternative to the US-led global system and was packed with displays of unity between Moscow, Beijing and Delhi, India.
Trump slammed the gathering in a Truth Social post, asking Xi to, ‘please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.’
He questioned whether Xi, ‘will mention the massive amount of support and ”blood” that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader.
‘Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!’
Trump signed off with a warm message, writing: ‘May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration.’
The post comes days after tensions sharply rose in Europe after a Russian drone was shot down in Polish airspace. Pictured: US-made MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile is launched during a live fire exercise
The Kremlin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, responded to Trump’s message saying: ‘I would like to say that no one has been conspiring, no one has been plotting anything, no conspiracies.
‘No one even had such a thought – none of these three leaders had such a thought.’
He added: ‘I can say that everyone understands the role played by the United States, the current administration of President Trump and President Trump personally in the current international situation.’
