Donald Trump has reignited debate over NATO’s energy ties to Moscow after warning that the United States will only adopt new sanctions on Russia once alliance members stop buying Russian oil and gas.
In a post on his Truth Social platform last Saturday, the US President accused NATO members of undermining their own leverage against the Kremlin. “NATO’S commitment to WIN has been far less than 100%, and the purchase of Russian Oil, by some, has been shocking!” he wrote. “It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia.”
The remarks come as new figures highlight NATO’s continued dependence on Russian fossil fuels. In August alone, alliance members imported nearly €1 billion worth of Russian crude oil, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
Who’s still buying?
Turkey was the biggest NATO buyer of Russian crude, importing €596 million worth last month. Hungary and Slovakia together brought in another €379 million, while both continue to rely heavily on Russian pipeline gas.
The EU as a whole imported €1.2 billion worth of Russian fossil fuels in August. Despite being vocal supporters of Ukraine, France, the Netherlands and Belgium all continue to purchase Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Turkey also remains a major player in the trade, buying around €3 billion worth of Russian fossil fuels in August, making it the third-largest importer globally. By comparison, China topped the list with €5.7 billion, followed by India with €3.6 billion.
Ukraine strikes back
At the same time, Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure in a bid to cut off one of Moscow’s key sources of war funding. Over the past week, Ukrainian forces have struck the Kirishi refinery in Leningrad Oblast and the Primorsk oil hub near the Baltic coast. On 9 September, Kyiv also targeted gas pipelines supplying Russian troops inside Ukraine.
These strikes have already sparked tensions within Europe. Hungary, one of the continent’s most energy-dependent countries, raised concerns in August that its energy security was being jeopardised by Ukraine’s campaign.
The road ahead
Trump’s demand for NATO to halt all Russian oil imports looks unlikely to gain traction, particularly as Turkey has no plans to restrict its purchases. Hungary and Slovakia are also resisting calls to phase out Russian fossil fuels.
The European Commission has set out a target to end Russian fossil fuel imports by the end of 2027, but the plan has yet to be formally agreed by member states. In Washington, meanwhile, US lawmakers are drafting the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, which could tighten restrictions on Russian energy regardless of NATO’s position.
For now, NATO’s continued dependence on Russian oil and gas remains a glaring contradiction: while the alliance backs Ukraine on the battlefield, billions still flow into Moscow’s war chest through energy sales.
