WP: Trump demands NATO action on Russian oil before any US sanctions

Trump's recent remarks that he would impose major additional US sanctions on Russia only after all NATO countries increased pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin by halting purchases of Russian oil felt like a tactic for him to avoid taking steps against Russia, according to The Washington Post (WP), Report informs.

"I am 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," Trump wrote in a social media post on Saturday morning.

His proposal, announced on social media, is unlikely to land with several members of the 32-country alliance, WP says. "Türkiye is one of Russia's major customers and has sought to preserve ties to the Kremlin despite the war. Hungary and Slovakia, two other customers of Russian oil that are led by Trump allies, have worked to shield their economies from the disruption of finding other energy suppliers," it says.

"But some Russia hawks in both Washington and Europe said Saturday that Trump's latest demand felt like a tactic for him to avoid taking steps against Russia, even though they also agreed that Europe should put a final stop to buying Russian energy," WP says.