Trump writes letter to NATO countries

On September 13, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a strongly worded letter to NATO member countries, urging them to take immediate collective action to pressure Russia into ending its war in Ukraine. The letter, which Trump shared publicly on his Truth Social platform, framed the conflict as "Biden’s and Zelenskyy’s WAR" and emphasized that NATO's efforts had been insufficient. He conditioned U.S. imposition of "major Sanctions on Russia" on NATO allies first agreeing to matching sanctions and completely halting all purchases of Russian oil.

Key Demands in the Letter

Trump's message, presented as addressed to "all NATO nations and the world," included the following core points:

*Stop Buying Russian Oil: He called it "shocking" that some NATO members continue importing Russian energy, arguing it undermines their leverage against Moscow. Notable buyers include Turkey (the third-largest after China and India), Hungary, and Slovakia. The EU as a bloc has reduced Russian LNG imports from 22% in 2021 to 19% in 2025 but remains a major customer, importing $41.9 billion in Russian goods in 2024.

*Impose Matching Sanctions: Trump stated he is "ready to 'go' when you are," but only if all NATO countries commit to and begin enforcing equivalent sanctions on Russia simultaneously.

*Tariffs on China: He proposed that NATO impose 50% to 100% tariffs on Chinese goods until the war ends, claiming China has a "strong control, and even grip, over Russia" that such measures would break. These tariffs would be withdrawn post-conflict.

*Outcome Prediction: Trump asserted that compliance would lead to a quick end to the war, saving lives, and accused non-compliance of wasting U.S. time, energy, and money.

The full text of the letter, as posted by the White House on X (formerly Twitter), reads in part:

"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. [...] I believe that this, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50% to 100% TARIFFS ON CHINA, to be fully withdrawn after the WAR with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR. [...] 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! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES"

Context and Reactions :

The letter came amid escalating tensions, following Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace on September 10, 2025—the second such incident involving a NATO member after Romania reported one earlier. NATO has responded by bolstering its eastern flank, with Poland deploying 40,000 troops to its borders with Belarus and Russia, and allies like France, the UK, and the Netherlands offering jets and air defense systems. The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to defend "every inch of NATO territory."

Reactions have been mixed:

*Critics in the U.S. and Europe: Some, like Atlantic writer Tom Nichols, called it "inane" and a way for Trump to dodge responsibility, noting the demands are unrealistic. European officials highlighted that abruptly cutting Russian energy before 2027 could devastate industries and spike global oil prices, while 100% tariffs on China—Europe's largest trading partner—risk severe retaliation and economic chaos.

*International Pushback: China's foreign ministry slammed the proposals as unrelated to ending the war, accusing Trump of instigating conflicts. Indian officials, facing U.S. threats of doubled tariffs (from 25% to 50%) over their Russian oil purchases, dismissed the pressure as illogical given their neutral stance.

*Supporters and Analysts: Pro-Trump outlets like WLT Report praised it as decisive leadership exposing European "hypocrisy." German commentator Julian Reichelt in Bild argued it reveals both Europe's inconsistent Russia policy and Trump's own reluctance to act unilaterally.

As of September 15, 2025, no NATO countries have publicly committed to Trump's demands, and the alliance's response remains focused on military deterrence rather than the proposed economic measures. The letter echoes Trump's past approach to NATO, emphasizing burden-sharing, but its linkage to China and oil has drawn accusations of broadening the conflict into a global trade war.