President Donald Trump has laid out a new economic strategy for the Ukraine conflict that amounts to a war on two fronts, targeting not only Russia but also its powerful economic ally, China. The plan relies on the full and unified participation of the entire NATO alliance to be effective.
The first front is aimed directly at Russia. Trump has made it a condition that before the U.S. levies new “major Sanctions,” all NATO members must first cease buying Russian oil. This is intended to be a decisive blow to the Russian economy, cutting off its most vital revenue stream from the West.
The second front opens up against China. Trump has proposed that NATO should act as a single entity to impose tariffs of 50% to 100% on Chinese goods. This is a direct response to the Sino-Russian partnership that has helped Moscow mitigate the impact of existing sanctions. The tariffs would be removed once the war is over.
This ambitious two-front strategy seeks to create a level of economic pressure that Russia and its partners cannot withstand. It’s a high-risk, high-reward approach that would dramatically escalate the global economic stakes of the conflict.