Trump Calls Out Turkish President For Buying Russian Oil During Oval Office Visit

President Donald Trump publicly pressed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday to cut off oil purchases from Moscow, warning that Turkey’s energy trade is helping bankroll Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

“I’d like to have him stop buying any oil from Russia while Russia continues his rampage against Ukraine,” Trump said during their Oval Office meeting. “They’ve lost millions of lives already, and for what? Disgraceful.”

Erdogan, who has insisted Turkey will remain “neutral,” offered a guarded reply through a translator: “I believe in the peace efforts that President Trump is leading, and together we will be able to overcome the challenges in the region.”

Trump emphasized that Russia’s economy is “absolutely terrible right now” and that the Kremlin is “killing a lot of people unnecessarily. 7,818 people were killed last week, mostly military people. It’s such a waste of human life, and so [Putin] ought to stop.” He added that Erdogan “could have a big influence, if he wants to,” by halting Russian energy purchases.

Turkey has been NATO’s closest partner to Russia on energy, buying roughly a quarter of all Moscow’s oil product exports between 2022 and 2024. Ankara also ranks among the top buyers of Russian coal and liquified natural gas, and Russia is constructing Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.

“Right now, he’s very neutral. He likes being neutral, so do I — I like being neutral,” Trump said. “But if he did that — if he stopped buying oil and gas from Russia — that would be probably the best thing.”

After the meeting, Trump said Erdogan “has a lot of options” to meet his energy needs and predicted: “He’s going to do what’s right.”

The pressure on Turkey comes as Trump ramps up efforts to squeeze Russia economically. Last month he doubled tariffs on Indian imports to 50% in retaliation for New Delhi’s role as the second-largest buyer of Russian crude, after China.