Washington( The COW News Digital)NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned China, India, and Brazil of potential economic sanctions if they do not halt the purchase of discounted oil from Russia. The statement came during a press briefing following his meeting with U.S. senators in Washington.
Addressing reporters, Rutte emphasized that continued energy trade with Moscow undermines global efforts to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into serious negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. “These nations must play a more responsible global role and use their influence to push Russia toward a diplomatic resolution,” he asserted.
Rutte highlighted that the issue now transcends Ukraine and Europe, calling it a matter of global political and economic stability. “Maintaining economic ties with Moscow while it continues aggression in Ukraine sends the wrong signal and weakens international pressure,” he said.
He directly urged Beijing, New Delhi, and Brasília to reconsider their positions. “These countries need to ask themselves where they stand in shaping a future global order. Their choices now could carry significant long-term economic consequences,” he warned.
India is currently the largest buyer of Russian crude, taking advantage of lower prices amid Western sanctions. China and Brazil also remain key purchasers, while Turkey, although not mentioned directly, is known to have increased energy imports from Russia as well.
Rutte’s remarks follow a recent announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who hinted at a new arms package for Ukraine, including advanced defense systems. NATO’s message reflects a broader strategy to tighten the economic noose around Russia and discourage alternative markets from supporting its energy sector.
Geopolitical analysts view this development as a sign of growing frustration among Western allies over the inability to fully isolate Russia economically. “The fact that major economies like China and India continue buying Russian oil creates loopholes in the sanctions regime,” said Michael Harmon, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Policy Institute.
NATO’s warning comes amid intensified discussions within the alliance to expand the scope of secondary sanctions. The goal is to make it harder for countries to bypass Western embargoes by trading with Moscow indirectly.
While no immediate sanctions have been implemented yet, experts suggest that the pressure on these countries could intensify if Russia shows no signs of diplomatic progress.
