US President Donald Trump on Tuesday slammed NATO countries for failing to cut back on imports of Russian energy and related products amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, stating, “They’re funding the war against
themselves.”
Trump made these remarks while also naming China and India as the “primary funders” of the conflict, accusing both countries of continuing to buy oil from Russia.
Speaking at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump said he only found out two weeks ago that NATO nations were still purchasing Russian energy and called it “inexcusable”.
#WATCH | At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), US President Donald Trump says, “…China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil. But inexcusably, even NATO countries have not cut off much Russian… pic.twitter.com/Cy2cDhwfg6
— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2025
“China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil,” Trump said, referring to the war in Ukraine.
He added, “But inexcusably, even NATO countries have not cut off much Russian energy and Russian energy products, which, as you know, I found out about two weeks ago, and I wasn’t happy.”
“They’re funding the war against themselves,” he continued. “Who the hell ever heard of that one?”
Trump Threatens New Tariffs On Russia
Trump went on to say that if Russia is not willing to negotiate an end to the war, the US is ready to impose a strong new round of tariffs, stating that he “believe” these measures would quickly “stop the bloodshed” in Ukraine.
“For those tariffs to be effective, European nations, all of you are gathered here right now, would have to join us in adopting the exact same measures,” he said.
The US President also warned European countries to stop importing energy from Russia without delay. “They have to immediately cease all energy purchases from Russia. Otherwise we’re all wasting a lot of time,” he said.
Regarding Ukraine, Trump is set to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky for the second time since his summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15. That meeting broke Moscow’s isolation in the West but failed to achieve any breakthrough on the conflict.
Despite Trump’s insistence that he can help broker a quick end to the war, Russia has continued its attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks and has carried out drone or air incursions in NATO members Poland, Estonia, and Romania.
(With inputs from agencies)
