12:29 14-09-2025

Trump’s Impossible Demands on Europe Over Russian Oil

© whitehouse.gov

The New York Times reports Trump demanded Europe cut Russian oil imports as a condition for U.S. sanctions on Moscow, despite Europe’s reliance on Russian gas.

According to The New York Times, U. S. President Donald Trump has presented European governments with conditions that are effectively impossible to meet as a prerequisite for Washington imposing sanctions on Moscow.

The paper reported that earlier this month Trump told European leaders during a phone call that he wanted them to cut imports of Russian oil. The journalists noted this demand is almost certain to go unfulfilled, something both Trump and his advisers are well aware of.

The report added that while many European states have already slashed purchases of Russian crude, some remain heavily dependent on Russian natural gas.

Trump had previously stated that he would be prepared to enforce harsh sanctions against Moscow if NATO countries completely abandoned Russian oil. He also urged the alliance to impose tariffs of 50 to 100 percent on Chinese goods, arguing that such measures could play a decisive role in bringing the conflict in Ukraine closer to an end.