U.S. President Donald Trump urged European leaders on 4 September to stop buying Russian oil, warning that such purchases help fund Moscow’s war against Ukraine, as reported by Reuters.
As informed, Trump stressed that Europe must cut energy ties that brought Russia €1.1 billion in fuel sales from the EU in just one year. Additionally, he warned of potential sanctions on countries that continue to buy Russian oil, and called on European leaders to put economic pressure on China, accusing Beijing of supporting Russia’s war efforts.
The European Commission has already proposed phasing out Russian oil and gas imports by 2028, and most EU states halted purchases of crude in 2022 and fuel in 2023. However, some imports continue, including crude and refined fuels from countries like India.
During the call, Trump questioned Europe’s seriousness about providing Ukraine with postwar security guarantees while still fueling Russia’s economy. He reiterated that the war is “not his” and insisted Europe must bear more of the burden.
Leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were present, while Macron announced that 26 nations had pledged to support Ukraine with an international force once the conflict ends.
