Trump presses Erdogan to curb Russian oil purchases during Oval Office visit

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump pressed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday for defying his calls for European nations and NATO allies to stop buying Russian oil and funding Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Noting that Erdogan has said he wants to remain neutral in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, Trump told reporters in front of the Turkish leader that it was time to intensify economic pressure on the Kremlin. Trump said Erdogan should stop buying oil from Russia while Moscow continues its war against Ukraine, arguing that Moscow has cost thousands of lives and that the war is a disgrace. He added that Erdogan, who has hosted talks between Russia and Ukraine in the past, could have a big influence on ending the war if he chose to act.

Trump said Erdogan is currently neutral and that while he too favors neutrality, Erdogan could play a crucial role if he decides to cut oil and gas purchases from Russia. He noted that Erdogan knows Putin and suggested it would be beneficial for Erdogan to leverage his ties to press Moscow to end the conflict.

Turkey is the largest single buyer of Russian fuel, purchasing roughly a quarter of all Moscow’s oil product exports between 2022 and 2024, according to the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Turkey is the largest overall purchaser of Russian oil products. Comparatively, China—the top buyer of Russian crude oil—bought roughly 12% of Russia’s oil products over the same time period, followed by Brazil (11%). Turkey also is the fifth-largest purchaser of Russian coal and the fourth-largest importer of Russian liquefied natural gas, following the EU, China, Japan and South Korea. Trump hosted Erdogan as he advocates increasing economic pressure on Russia.

Trump, who had recently asserted Kyiv could potentially reconquer all of its territory, argued that Moscow’s economic weakness could shift the balance of the war. He has been pressing allies and partners to curb energy purchases from Russia, a broader strategy that includes actions such as tariff changes on major importers. Trump last month increased tariffs on India from 25% to 50% in an effort to penalize the second-largest importer of Russian crude oil. India purchases about 38% of Russian crude exports—behind only China, which buys about 47%.

Analysts note that Turkey’s enduring energy ties with Russia complicate Western efforts to isolate Moscow. Ankara has long balanced competing interests, seeking to protect its own energy security while navigating its role within NATO and its relationship with Kyiv. Turkey remains the largest overall purchaser of Russian oil products, a factor that can influence the effectiveness of Western efforts to reduce Kremlin revenue as Washington seeks closer alignment with European partners. The conversations between Trump and Erdogan come as Washington continues to urge allies and partners to cut back on Kremlin energy purchases and explore alternative suppliers.

Trump’s broader push to pressure Moscow has included other actions aimed at shifting global energy flows. He has publicly suggested that Kyiv could regain control of territories if Russia’s economy remains undermined by sanctions and tariffs. The president has also pressed major importers such as India to reduce purchases of Russian crude, arguing that diversifying away from Moscow’s energy supply would hasten Russia’s economic strain and, in turn, momentum on the battlefield. India purchases about 38% of Russian crude exports, while China buys roughly 47%, figures cited by observers tracking post-Soviet energy flows.

The Oval Office meeting with Erdogan occurred amid extensive U.S. efforts to rally international support for pressure on Moscow, including previous attempts to engage Putin directly on Ukraine. Erdogan’s stance—neutral for now—reflects Turkey’s complex calculus as it weighs energy dependencies with Moscow against its own strategic goals regarding NATO and regional stability. While Erdogan has hosted past talks between Russia and Ukraine, his capacity to influence Moscow remains a subject of international interest as the conflict enters its nearly four-year mark.