U.S. President Donald Trump has once again urged European Union countries to stop importing Russian energy sources. In his opinion, the cessation of oil and gas purchases from Russia should happen immediately, which he believes will help end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
This is reported by Business • Media
U.S. Pressure and Initiatives from European Countries
Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham recently threatened Hungary and Slovakia with consequences for purchasing Russian oil, emphasizing that these countries remain the main consumers of Russian energy resources in Europe.
In response, Croatia expressed its readiness to fully meet Hungary and Slovakia’s oil needs through the Adriatic pipeline. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković emphasized:
“The country can guarantee the supply of over 12 million tons of oil of any necessary blend to satisfy all the needs of the oil refinery in the city of Százhalombatta in Hungary and the Bratislava refinery in Slovakia.”
New EU Sanctions and Global Challenges
After negotiations with Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced intentions to accelerate the phased withdrawal from importing Russian oil. She also announced the preparation of the 19th sanctions package against Russia, which will affect the cryptocurrency sector, banking, and energy.
According to Politico, the EU intends to support U.S. initiatives to increase pressure on China — the main buyer of Russian energy resources. During discussions of the next sanctions package, scheduled for September 19, the inclusion of specific Chinese companies on the lists may be considered. However, the European Union leans towards targeted sanctions rather than the imposition of general tariffs, as Trump demands.
European diplomats express concern that the strict U.S. demands could slow down the process of combating Russia and also shift responsibility onto European NATO allies. Moreover, the introduction of tariffs up to 100% on imports from China could lead to a rapid rise in inflation in the EU and harm the European economy. Additionally, China has already tightened control over the export of rare earth elements to Europe, creating risks for the automotive industry and electronics manufacturers, who may face supply disruptions and losses.
Japan, for its part, maintains a cautious stance regarding U.S. proposals to raise tariffs on imports from China and India. Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato emphasized that the country will carefully weigh further steps that will effectively influence Russia in order to achieve peace in Ukraine.