On Saturday morning, President Trump launched an all-caps rant on Truth Social, pitched as, in all caps, “A LETTER SENT BY PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP TO ALL NATO NATIONS AND, THE WORLD.”
In it, the president said he would agree to go along with sanctions on Russia, but only if other NATO nations agreed to stop buying oil from Russia.
“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. 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!,” the president said.
Per CNN, the European Union, which does not match exactly with NATO but has many of the same members, has repeatedly placed sanctions on Russia, including on energy.
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“I am ready to “’go’ when you are,” Trump continued, putting the word “go” in quotes for mysterious reasons.
“Just say when? I believe that this, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50% to 100% TARIFFS ON CHINA, to be fully withdrawn after the WAR with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR.”
He went on to blame both his predecessor and Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelenskyy for starting the war, which began in 2022 when Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.
“China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip. This is not TRUMP’S WAR (it would never have started if I was President!), it is Biden’s and Zelenskyy’s WAR,” the president added.
“If NATO does as I say, the WAR will end quickly, and all of those lives will be saved! If not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter!,” Trump concluded, signing the “letter” “DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
There were some shocked reactions to Trump’s ultimatum:
Trump sets up impossible preconditions as an excuse to do nothing on Russia, including a requirement that every NATO member first join his trade war against China with massive tariffs. pic.twitter.com/QXxvAaBL6d
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) September 13, 2025
I know Trump is Trump. I know he says things that are bizarre and untrue.
But reading about the “Zelenskyy’s war” again isn’t just upsetting, it’s infuriating. People here die every day In a war Russia started and continues, yet somehow it’s blamed on us. It’s tragic. pic.twitter.com/g4s38CVFym
— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) September 13, 2025
Two problems:
First, Trump is looking for another excuse not to place serious sanctions on Russia. Now, these sanctions are conditional on NATO countries.
Second, there is no chance ALL NATO countries will ever agree to stop buying Russian oil, as long as Trump’s and Putin’s… pic.twitter.com/jq8PHKpzXC
— Roman Sheremeta 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@rshereme) September 13, 2025
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
