Journalism of Courage
US President Donald Trump on Sunday reiterated his stance that he is willing to impose sanctions on Russia but called out Europe to act in a way that is commensurate with what Washington was doing.
Asserting that Europe is buying oil from Russia, Trump told the media, “Europe is buying oil from Russia. I don’t want them to buy oil.” The US president said that the sanctions that Europe is imposing on Russia are not enough and the European Union needs to be tough.
Talking to reporters regarding sanctions on Moscow on Sunday, Trump said, “And the sanctions…that they’re putting on are not tough enough, and I’m willing to do sanctions, but they’re going to have to toughen up their sanctions commensurate with what I’m doing,” Reuters reported.
Earlier on Saturday, the Republican leader had pressed NATO countries to stop purchasing oil from Russia and instead impose sanctions on it while suggesting a 50% to 100% tariff imposition on Chinese goods till the Ukraine war ends.
Accusing Beijing of having strong control and grip over Russia, Trump wrote on his Truth Social, “I believe that this, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50% to 100% TARIFFS ON CHINA, to be fully withdrawn after the war with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ending this deadly, but ridiculous, war.”
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, Turkey, a member of NATO, is the third largest buyer of Russian oil after China and India. Among other NATO members who purchase oil from Russia include Hungary and Slovakia.
The US president has already imposed an additional 25% tariff penalty on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchase of Russian energy products, but the Republican leader has not yet imposed a similar sanction on China for doing the same.
Trump has repeatedly threatened Moscow with additional tariffs but his administration has failed to pass it.
(with inputs from Reuters)
