European Leaders Urged to Stop Russian Oil Purchases

President Donald Trump is urging European nations to cease their purchases of Russian oil, aiming to ramp up pressure on Moscow to engage in serious negotiations regarding Ukraine and its ongoing conflict.

During a recent online meeting in Paris, Trump pointed out that continued Russian oil purchases were essentially funding the war. A White House source noted that Russia had gained approximately €1.1 billion—around $1.3 billion—from its fuel sales to the European Union (EU) over the previous year.

At the same summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Western allies to discuss potential security guarantees that could be included in peace talks with Russia.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff participated in the meeting as Trump pressed for an end to Russian oil imports. He warned that these transactions were directly supporting Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.

“President Trump emphasized that Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war—Russia received [$1.28 billion] in fuel sales from the EU in one year,” stated a White House official. “He also stressed that European partners should impose economic pressure on China for its support of Russia’s military efforts.”

Even though a significant portion—around 75%—of Russian fossil fuel purchases come from China, India, and Turkey, European countries still accounted for roughly $25.5 billion in Russian fuel purchases in 2024, as reported by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

To reinforce its stance, the Trump administration is imposing secondary tariffs on commercial partners like India, which continue to buy Russian oil, as part of its broader strategy to diminish Russia’s ability to maintain its military operations.

Moreover, additional sanctions against Russia are being considered, especially in light of the stalled peace talks that followed an August meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A senior official from the White House communicated to the New York Post that the U.S. would weigh these sanctions only if European allies agreed to cooperate.

“The U.S. wants Europe to join in sanctions with Washington and to halt their purchases of Russian oil,” the official stated.

Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, an advisor to Zelensky, mentioned that the topic of sanctions would be discussed further.

“I understand it’s essential for the U.S. to receive additional signals from Europe that they will immediately align with pending American sanctions and stop buying Russian oil,” Yermak remarked. “This understanding will be communicated.”

Zelensky also took to social media to highlight the “Coalition of the Willing” meeting in Paris, noting the shared belief among participants that Russia is trying to prolong the conflict and negotiations. He emphasized the necessity of boosting support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia, mentioning ongoing efforts for the 19th EU sanctions package and Japan’s role in sanction measures.

“We carefully discussed each country’s readiness to contribute to security on various fronts—land, sea, air, and cyberspace. We coordinated positions and reviewed elements of security guarantees, expressing gratitude for recognizing that a robust Ukrainian army is the main security guarantee,” he said.

Zelensky also praised President Trump for his efforts in seeking to resolve the conflict and for America’s readiness to support Ukraine.