'This is not Trump's war': POTUS blames NATO's Russian oil purchases for stalled Ukraine negotiations

WASHINGTON, DC: It has been nearly a month since President Donald Trump welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin for a summit in Anchorage, Alaska, which failed to deliver the ceasefire he had predicted.

Since then, Putin has made no moves toward peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Donald Trump threatens sanctions unless NATO stops Russian oil imports

On Saturday, September 13, Donald Trump used Truth Social to release a letter directed at NATO countries, attacking US allies for continuing to buy oil from Russia. He vowed that sanctions would only come if NATO nations met his conditions.

In his statement, the Republican leader 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."

He added, "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! It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia.”

Trump calls for tariffs on China, blames Biden and Zelensky for war

The president insisted that NATO’s role had been weak and claimed the ongoing conflict would have never started under his administration.

In the same message, Trump pushed for additional economic measures. “I believe that this, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50% to 100% TARIFFS ON CHINA, to be fully withdrawn after the WAR with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR," the 79-year-old wrote. 

Trump said, "China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip.”

He stressed, “This is not TRUMP’S WAR (it would never have started if I was President!), 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!”

Internet divided over Trump’s remarks on NATO and Russia

The president’s words sparked mixed reactions across social media.

A supporter wrote, “This is true leadership. Will be interesting to see NATO's response. The war has to end,” while another dismissed Trump’s message as “Noise only.”

A person bluntly said, “Beg to differ. It’s Putin’s war,” whereas someone else added, “Wow--a new angle for Trump: 'NATO is the bad guy.' Anyone but Putin must be blamed.”

“He's starting to shift the blame. He puts forward impossible demands, and then when the other party can't meet them, it's not his fault, Trump says. This is Trump's theory of winning,” an individual argued.

Others mocked the POTUS' broader approach, writing, “The Trump administration has no strategy for Russian aggression beyond playing with crayons.” 

One more stressed, "The war must be ended immediately under the conditions that are possible now. The ambitions of some state leaders are not important. The impact of the sanctions, which are talked about too much in Europe, is too long-term and Russia has adapted to them."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.