US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia amid escalating tensions between NATO and Moscow over the Ukraine conflict.
Taking to Truth Social, he delivered a direct message to Vladimir Putin whilst calling on NATO allies to "do as I say" in order to bring the Ukrainian war to a swift conclusion.
The American leader declared his readiness to unleash "major sanctions" on Moscow, but only if NATO countries collectively cease purchasing Russian oil.
His extensive social media statement follows NATO's announcement of plans to bolster defence capabilities across Eastern Europe in response to a Russian drone breach into Polish territory.
The US has also pledged to defend "every inch" of its ally, voicing serious concerns about the incursion, reports the Express.
Trump stated: "I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA. As you know, NATO'S commitment to WIN has been far less than 100%, and the purchase of Russian Oil, by some, has been shocking! It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia. Anyway, I am ready to 'go' when you are. Just say when?".
He added: "I believe that this, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50% to 100% TARIFFS ON CHINA, to be fully withdrawn after the WAR with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR. China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip.
"This is not TRUMP'S WAR (it would never have started if I was President! ), it is Biden's and Zelenskyy's WAR. I am only here to help stop it, and save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives (7,118 lives lost last week, alone. CRAZY! )."
He concluded: "If NATO does as I say, the WAR will end quickly, and all of those lives will be saved! If not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States.
"Thank you for your attention to this matter! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."
Polish, Dutch and Italian fighter aircraft were scrambled on Wednesday morning to intercept Russian drones that had breached the border from Belarus.
An unnamed NATO official, quoted in a report by Germany's Die Welt, claimed the drones were flying directly towards a Polish NATO facility, which is allegedly connected to the provision of military equipment to Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared: "This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two."
Nevertheless, the Kremlin maintained that Russian forces had not targeted Poland. It added that officials were prepared to discuss the incident with Polish leaders.
Russia's defence ministry stated: "The maximum range of the Russian drones that allegedly crossed into Poland does not exceed 700km (435 miles)."