US President Donald Trump on Thursday urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stop buying Russian oil, linking the issue to Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The appeal came during Erdogan’s visit to the White House — his first since 2019 — where discussions also focused on Ankara’s push to acquire US F-35 stealth fighter jets.
Trump said he would consider lifting sanctions on Turkey’s defense sector, which were imposed after Ankara purchased Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, a move that had resulted in Turkey’s removal from the US-led F-35 program.
“I’d like to have him stop buying any oil from Russia while Russia continues this rampage,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, seated alongside Erdogan.
He praised the Turkish leader as someone “very respected” by both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, adding that Erdogan could play a significant role in pushing for peace. “The best thing he could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia,” Trump said.
On the prospect of lifting sanctions tied to Turkey’s defense dealings, Trump suggested that progress could come swiftly: “If we have a good meeting, almost immediately.”
The US has long expressed concern that Ankara’s use of Russian missile systems could compromise NATO security by exposing sensitive defense technology to Moscow.
