U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Turkey to stop purchasing oil from Russia, a move he believes would be beneficial for Turkey and would further pressure Moscow amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine. During a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House, Trump stated that halting these imports would be “the best thing” Erdogan could do.
The meeting between the two leaders concluded without concrete agreements on lifting U.S. sanctions against Turkey or proceeding with the sale of F-35 fighter jets. However, Trump expressed optimism regarding progress on both fronts.
Turkey has been seeking F-35 jets for several years. Its participation in the F-35 program was suspended in 2019 after the country acquired Russian S-400 air defense systems, a decision that led to Turkey’s removal from the program, where it was also a manufacturer of key components.
In his remarks, Trump highlighted Turkey’s potential influence on the conflict, suggesting that Erdogan, who is perceived to have good relations with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, could play a significant role in de-escalating the war “if he wants to.”
Turkey, along with India and China, remains a significant purchaser of Russian oil and gas. Data indicates that Russian gas deliveries to Europe via Turkey have seen a notable increase of over 26% this year.
Trump’s comments follow recent statements where he indicated readiness to impose stricter sanctions on Russia if NATO members committed to halting their own Russian oil imports. He had previously criticized NATO allies for “funding the war against themselves” through their energy purchases from Russia.
The U.S. had previously imposed sanctions on Turkey in 2020 following the S-400 acquisition. Trump suggested that these sanctions could be lifted “very soon” if the meeting proved productive.
Erdogan, speaking to Fox News, described the F-35 ban as “not very becoming of a strategic partnership.” He also voiced strong criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling them “complete genocide,” a stance that differed from Trump’s public remarks during their meeting, although both leaders avoided direct disagreement on the matter in their joint appearance. Israel denies committing genocide in Gaza.
The U.S. has previously expressed concerns regarding potential F-35 sales to Turkey, citing Turkey’s military operations in Syria and past airspace violations concerning Greece. A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers recently cautioned against the sale, pointing to Turkey’s military ties with Russia and alleged disregard for international norms.