NATO Warns China, India, Brazil of Harsh US Sanctions If Russia Rejects Peace Talks
WASHINGTON – NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned Tuesday that countries like China, India, and Brazil could face sweeping secondary U.S. sanctions if they continue trading with Russia while refusing to pressure Moscow into serious peace negotiations over Ukraine. Speaking from Washington, D.C., Rutte emphasized the urgency of diplomatic pressure, stating, “This might hit you very hard.”
Rutte’s remarks followed his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, who on Monday threatened to impose 100% secondary tariffs on Russia if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days. Rutte underlined Trump’s intent, saying, “If Russia is not serious about peace talks, within 50 days, he will slam secondary sanctions on countries like India, China, and Brazil.”
Flanked by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Jeanne Shaheen, Rutte urged the leaders of those countries to directly contact Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that failing to act could have dire economic consequences. Rutte also confirmed that the U.S. will massively supply Ukraine with weapons, paid for by European allies, to ensure Kyiv is in a strong position when talks begin.
Meanwhile, Shaheen and Tillis expressed mixed reactions to the 50-day ultimatum. While Shaheen backed continued weapons shipments and a bipartisan sanctions bill, she opposed giving Russia additional time, citing the ongoing loss of Ukrainian lives. Tillis voiced concern that Putin may exploit the grace period to seize more territory before negotiations.
