CaliToday (14/9/2025): President Donald Trump has once again demanded that NATO member states cease purchasing Russian oil, escalating his push for broader sanctions hoped to compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
In a series of statements on Saturday, September 13, Trump announced he was "'ready to pull the trigger'" on "major" sanctions against Russia as soon as other NATO nations follow suit—and when all stop buying oil from Moscow.
"As you know, NATO’s commitment to WINNING is far less than 100%, and the fact that some are still buying Russian oil is shocking! It badly weakens your negotiating position and bargaining power against Russia," the President wrote on his Truth Social platform.
"Anyway, I am ready to ‘pull the trigger’ when you are. Just say when? I believe that, along with NATO, as a group, putting a 50% to 100% Tariff on China—to be completely removed following the end of the Russia - Ukraine War—will also go a long way in ENDING this deadly but SENSELESS war," Trump added.
The ultimatum followed an interview on "Fox and Friends" on Friday, September 12, where Trump stated that his patience with the Russian leader was "wearing very thin."
G7 Finance Ministers Echo Trump's Call for Economic Pressure
The administration's stance was reinforced on Friday at a G7 Finance Ministers meeting hosted by Canada. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated Trump's call for G7 nations to impose tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil if they are "truly committed" to ending the three-and-a-half-year conflict in Eastern Europe.
In a joint statement, Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also welcomed "commitments" to intensify sanctions pressure and "explore the use of frozen Russian sovereign assets to further support Ukraine's defense."
"Only with a unified effort to cut off the revenue financing Putin’s war machine at its source can we apply enough economic pressure to end this senseless killing," Bessent and Greer stated. "Thanks to President Trump's bold leadership, the United States has taken strong action against purchasers of Russian oil. We are encouraged by the commitment from our G7 counterparts that they are determined to end the war, and we hope they will join us in taking decisive measures at this pivotal moment."
Tensions Escalate as Russian Drones Violate Romanian and Polish Airspace
Trump's call for decisive action comes amid a dangerous escalation on the ground. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the presence of Russian drones over Romanian territory. Air surveillance from the Kremlin has been constant over Ukraine, but drones have now been reported in neighboring NATO countries this week.
"The Russian military knows exactly where their drones are heading and how long they can operate in the air. These routes are always calculated. This cannot be a coincidence, a mistake, or an initiative of low-level commanders," Zelensky said in a statement on X. "This is a clear expansion of Russia's war – and they always act this way. It begins with small steps, and eventually leads to major attacks."
The Romanian Air Force scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to monitor the drone's presence before it disappeared near Chilia Veche, according to officials. Romanian Minister of Defense Ionut Mosteanu wrote on X, "Romania condemns Russia’s reckless behavior, which threatens regional stability. Together with our NATO allies, we remain vigilant and ready to defend every inch of our allies’ airspace."
This follows a separate incident on Wednesday, September 10, when Russian drones were detected in Polish airspace, prompting Poland to invoke NATO's Article 4 and convene member states to formulate a joint response.
While President Trump told reporters the incursion into Poland "could have been a mistake," many world leaders dismissed this assessment, viewing it as a deliberate escalation by Moscow.
Nebraska Republican Criticizes Trump on Ukraine: 'You Will Be Judged by the History Books'
President Trump is facing criticism not only from abroad but also from within his own party. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) intensified his critique of Trump's handling of the war, arguing he will "be judged by the history books" for his approach.
"‘This is former President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's war’ is a morally blind and factually incorrect view by Donald Trump," Bacon wrote on X Saturday morning, referencing an earlier post by Trump. "Mr. President, Putin is the aggressor."
"And now, this war is on your watch, and you will be judged by the history books for decades to come based on your action or inaction," Bacon continued.
In his earlier post, Trump had written: "This is not TRUMP’S WAR (it never would have happened if I were President!), but the WAR of former President Biden and Zelenskyy. I am just here to help stop it, and save many thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives (7,118 lives lost last week alone. CRAZY!). If NATO does as I say, the war will be over quickly, and all of those lives will be saved!"
On the Domestic Front: Trump to Deploy National Guard to Memphis
Amidst the international turmoil, President Trump also announced on Friday his intention to deploy the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of his administration's crackdown on crime. "And the mayor is happy. He's a Democratic mayor. The mayor's very happy. And the governor of Tennessee is happy," Trump said on "Fox & Friends."
Diplomacy in Focus: Trump Meets Qatari PM After Israeli Airstrikes in Doha
President Trump met with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Friday, September 12, days after an Israeli airstrike in Doha targeted and killed Hamas leaders. The White House confirmed the two leaders had dinner in New York but provided no further details.
The meeting occurred just hours after al-Thani met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House. Earlier this week, Trump expressed his frustration over the strike in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressing that he wants "peace now," according to the White House.
The Israeli attack, which killed five Hamas members and one Qatari security officer, has complicated delicate hostage negotiations. The Qatari Prime Minister stated Thursday that the airstrikes "killed any hope" of rescuing hostages from Gaza, as Qatar has been a key mediator in ceasefire talks.
In London: Over 110,000 Join Far-Right Rally, Leading to Violent Clashes
LONDON – A march in London organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson drew an estimated crowd of over 110,000 on Saturday, September 13, and devolved into chaos as a minority of his supporters clashed violently with police.
London's Metropolitan Police reported that 26 officers were injured—four seriously—after being punched, kicked, and pelted with bottles by individuals on the fringes of the "Unite the Kingdom" rally. At least 25 arrests were made for offenses including public disorder and assault.
The rally's theme was staunchly anti-immigration. French far-right politician Eric Zemmour told the crowd, "We are all experiencing the great replacement of European peoples by peoples from the South and by Islamic culture." Elon Musk, appearing via video, condemned what he called "the destruction of Britain" by "uncontrolled immigration."
The massive crowd carried English and Union Jack flags, chanting "we want our country back" and holding signs such as "stop the boats." They were met by a smaller counter-protest of around 5,000 people under the banner "March Against Fascism," leading to tense standoffs that police struggled to contain.