President Trump's Conditional Sanctions on Russia Spark NATO Tensions
In a move that has sparked tensions within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), President Trump announced on September 13, 2025, that he would only impose new sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine if all NATO member countries agree to do the same and stop purchasing Russian oil.
According to a lengthy social media post, which Trump described as the text of a letter to all NATO members, he wrote: "I am ready to do 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." The statement came after a meeting with fellow NATO leaders in New York City.
This conditional approach has raised eyebrows among some NATO officials, who are concerned that it may undermine the alliance's collective decision-making process. "It's not clear what kind of leverage President Trump thinks he has over other countries to get them to agree to this," said one senior NATO diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We're a coalition of nations working together to address common threats, and we can't have one member country dictating the terms."
The move is seen as an attempt by Trump to put pressure on NATO members to take a tougher stance against Russia over its actions in Ukraine. The conflict has been ongoing since 2014, with Russia's annexation of Crimea and ongoing support for separatist groups in eastern Ukraine. According to the United Nations, over 13,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
NATO officials have long argued that imposing sanctions on Russia is a necessary step to pressure Moscow to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. However, some countries, such as Germany and Italy, have been hesitant to impose strict sanctions due to their reliance on Russian energy imports. According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2024, NATO member countries imported over $100 billion worth of oil and gas from Russia.
The situation has sparked concerns among experts that Trump's approach may be seen as an attempt to bully other countries into following his lead. "This is a classic case of 'I'm going to do something if you all agree with me,'" said Dr. Rachel Bronson, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and expert on international relations. "It's not clear what kind of leverage he has over these countries or whether this will actually achieve his goals."
As the situation continues to unfold, NATO officials are meeting in emergency session to discuss the implications of Trump's announcement. The alliance has yet to issue a formal statement on the matter.
In the meantime, the United States and its European allies are facing growing pressure from Ukraine and other Eastern European countries to take a tougher stance against Russia. "We need to show that we're united in our commitment to defending democracy and human rights," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a statement. "The time for words is over; it's time for action."
As the situation continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Trump's conditional sanctions on Russia have sparked a heated debate within NATO about the best way forward in addressing the crisis in Ukraine.
This story was compiled from reports by NPR Politics and NPR News.
