EU Rejects Trumps Demands on Russia and China
EU Pushes Back on Trump’s Demands Over Russia and China
Brussels – Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest calls for tougher action on Russia and China are drawing a cautious response from European officials, who argue that much of what he demands is either already underway or simply not realistic.
In a weekend post on Truth Social, Trump said NATO countries should stop buying Russian oil and impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on China until the war in Ukraine ends.
EU Already Cutting Russian Oil
The European Union notes it has already gone far in cutting energy ties with Moscow. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the bloc has slashed its oil imports from nearly 30 percent of supply to just 2 percent by mid-2025. Only Hungary and Slovakia remain dependent on Russian crude, though Brussels has vowed to phase out all Russian oil and gas by 2027.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also suggested moving faster, stressing that Brussels is working with allies to tighten sanctions against Moscow. Some diplomats privately welcome Trump’s pressure on Budapest and Bratislava, saying it could help push the two holdouts.
Spotlight on Turkey
A bigger challenge could be Turkey, a NATO member that has refused to join international sanctions and has instead increased its Russian oil imports. Officials say this could be the real test of Trump’s call for an alliance-wide embargo.
China Tariffs Unlikely
Trump’s demand for steep tariffs on China, however, runs against EU policy. While Brussels has sanctioned Chinese companies accused of aiding Russia’s war effort, it remains opposed to broad tariffs, preferring to avoid a trade war with Beijing.
“Tariffs are not really on the table,” one EU diplomat said, noting that the bloc is traditionally pro-free trade.
Next EU Sanctions Package
The EU is preparing its 19th round of sanctions on Russia, with measures expected to target additional Chinese businesses but not the sweeping steps Trump envisions. Diplomats say U.S.-EU coordination is limited, and some fear Trump is setting up Brussels to take the blame if pressure on Moscow falters.
“Even if his requests are deliberately excessive, we have to respond somehow to avoid being painted as weak,” said one European diplomat. Another warned that Trump could use the issue as a pretext to avoid tough action on Russia himself, a scenario officials call “dangerous spin.”
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