Trump said at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23: "If Russia is not prepared to reach an agreement to end the war, the US is fully prepared to implement a round of tough tariffs... but for these tariffs to be effective, European countries must join us and take exactly the same measures... they must immediately stop purchasing all energy from Russia."
Comment: Trump's statement continues his usual "tariff pressure" strategy, using economic sanctions as the core tool to achieve geopolitical goals. The core contradiction lies in pushing Europe into the position of a "cost bearer" — although the EU plans to completely terminate Russian energy imports by 2027, in 2024 it still relies on 19% of its natural gas from Russia, and countries such as Hungary have clearly opposed radical de-Russification. "Immediately stop all energy purchases" seriously conflicts with Europe's energy transition rhythm and member state interests, essentially treating allies as "cost bearers" and "benefit payers." The simultaneous introduction of the "NATO pays" military aid model has already become apparent — European countries pay for weapons, while American defense companies gain orders.
Trump has always viewed relations with Russia as a negotiable "business," rather than mere confrontation. He firmly believes that his "personal relationship" with Putin can be the key to mediation, thinking that new sanctions would completely close the negotiation window, leaving the already deadlocked Ukraine peace dialogue with no room for maneuver. This mindset leads him to view sanctions against Russia as a "last resort," not a priority option, and he tends to use diplomatic contact instead of economic pressure.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844083399258115/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.