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US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on 13 September that the United States would impose “major sanctions” on Russia only if NATO nations agreed to do the same and stopped purchasing Russian oil.
These remarks come after Axios reported that, despite his public promises to end the war in Ukraine, Trump is having doubts about his ability to influence Putin. A source told Axios that Trump has “misjudged Putin’s desire for peace.”
Trump has repeatedly threatened harsher US sanctions on Russia if no ceasefire is reached with Ukraine. He has set several deadlines this year, all of which have been missed, yet no new sanctions have been imposed by the administration.
In the post, Trump appeared to shift responsibility for US sanctions onto NATO and European allies.
He argued that European reliance on Russian oil weakens NATO’s bargaining power and called for additional tariffs on China, which he said holds significant influence over Moscow.
“I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA,” Trump wrote.
Hungary and Slovakia continue to buy Russian oil, despite criticism from US, European, and Ukrainian officials.
Trump also said that NATO should also place 50% to 100% tariffs on China, claiming that this will help end the war in Ukraine.
He added that “This is not TRUMP’S WAR, it is Biden’s and Zelenskyy’s WAR. I am only here to help stop it, and save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives.”
Russia has dramatically scaled up attacks on civilian areas since Trump took office in January.
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Romania is accelerating the revival of its defense industry with American and German support, prioritizing the domestic production of drones, explosives, and gunpowder, Radio Free Europe Romania reports.
The move comes as the country consolidates its role as a key NATO hub on the Alliance’s eastern flank and a critical logistics lifeline for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.
In spring, Romania’s Ministry of Economy announced that the Transylvanian city of Brașov would host new facilities for the production of drones, explosives, and ammunition.
The local Carfil military plant is expected to produce drones using components supplied by American defense company Periscope Aviation.
“This is not a simple acquisition; it is a complete technology transfer, meant to build an indigenous industrial capacity in Romania — a long-term strategic objective for many NATO member states that want to reduce their dependence on imports and strengthen their defense industrial base,” stressed Economy Minister Bogdan Ivan.
Mr. Ivan also confirmed that drone production is scheduled to begin this summer, with an annual target of approximately 3,500 units.
“We are beneficiaries of the European SAFE Mechanism, financed by the European Commission with up to €150 billion. We have submitted Romania’s production capacities for the next ten years, along with proposals on how we can evolve, what we can build, and where we can be competitive,” Ivan said in an interview with Digi24.
At the same time, Germany’s Rheinmetall defense conglomerate is building in Brașov what will be the largest military gunpowder factory in Europe, with an investment of €400 million.
Romania’s leadership has emphasized that domestic production of gunpowder is a top priority, as the country currently imports it from Serbia, where much of the supply originates in Russia.
“This is essential for Romania’s security and independence,” said former Economy Minister Radu Oprea, underlining the need to reduce reliance on foreign sources.
Last year, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also declared that Romania would soon host the “most modern gunpowder plant in Europe.”
The new projects in Brașov are part of a broader national strategy to revitalize Romania’s defense industry. German investments are also reinforcing the Mediaș plant, which is set to expand production of military vehicles.
In Satu Mare, plans are underway to launch production of Leopard tanks, further strengthening Romania’s heavy weapons capabilities.
These initiatives align with NATO’s push to ramp up production capacities across Europe in response to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. Romania’s geographical position and existing infrastructure make it a frontline state in both logistics and industrial support for Kyiv.
Photo: Rheinmetall Automecanica SRL plant in Mediaș, Romania. May, 2024. Romania. Frame from the Nova Tv Medias video channel
Since the 1990s, Romania has cultivated increasingly close ties with major foreign defense companies.
Israel’s Elbit Systems was the first, establishing a joint venture with Aerostar Bacău in 1997 to modernize the Romanian MiG-21 fleet to the LanceR standard. The company also operates a local branch, Elmet International SRL, which produces avionics and drone technology.
Partnerships with US companies such as General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon Technologies have resulted in:
Meanwhile, France’s Airbus, Naval Group, and Thales have supplied military communication systems, taken over and modernized the Ghimbav aircraft components factory, and entered into partnerships with the Constanța Naval Shipyard.
In addition, Poland’s PGZ has signalled interest in competing with its Borsuk model in the upcoming tender for Romania’s new infantry fighting vehicles.
Bayraktar drones stand lined up at a production facility in Brasov, which received massive investments from Airbus in 2024. Photo: Profimedia Images, Hotnews
Strategic significance for NATO and Ukraine
Romania is boosting its defense sector under the new 2024–2030 National Defense Industry Strategy, raising military spending above 2% of GDP and prioritizing advanced technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, and drones.
The plan focuses on:
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Romania has re-examined its security posture as a direct neighbor of the war zone. Hosting vital NATO facilities and serving as a transit hub for military aid, Romania has become indispensable to both Ukraine’s defense and NATO’s deterrence strategy.
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Kyiv extends a helping hand to Poland. Ukraine has offered Warsaw the necessary assistance in countering Russian drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.
This came after Moscow attacked Poland on 10 September using 19 drones. Only four of them were shot down, despite NATO scrambling its most powerful aircraft, including F-16s and F-35s.
The attack occurred just as Western leaders, including the US, continue working on security guarantees for Ukraine, aimed at protecting the country from Russian strikes, including drone attacks.
Ukraine does not possess modern fighter jets, yet during the same time frame, it managed to shoot down 380 out of 415 drones launched by Russia.
The question remains: how to force Russia to end the war against Ukraine and stop attacking NATO countries?
“No one can guarantee that there won’t be hundreds of drones if there are already dozens. Only joint European forces can provide real protection. We are ready to help with technology, crew training, and the necessary intelligence,” Zelenskyy stressed.
According to Zelenskyy, joint Russian-Belarusian exercises “Zapad-2025” have begun on Belarusian territory, and the attack on Poland may be part of this training scenario.
The program of the drills reportedly includes a rehearsal of an attack on Poland and even the simulation of a nuclear strike.
Despite the attack on a NATO member state, US President Donald Trump did not announce any new sanctions against Moscow or present a clear plan to counter Russia.
“Unfortunately, as of now, Russia has not received a tough response from global leaders to what it is doing,” Zelenskyy said.
According to him, with this attack, Russia is testing the limits of what is possible and probing the West’s reaction.
“They are recording how NATO armed forces act, what they can do and what they cannot do yet,” the Ukrainian president added.
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