Trump urges Turkey to stop buying Russian oil while Erdogan prosecution takes care of the F-35

US President Donald Trump urged Turkey to stop buying Russia oil, part of a greater desire to cut the funding for Moscow energy while the war in Ukraine rages.

Speaking alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House, Trump said that the cessation of these imports would be “the best thing” that his Turkish counterpart could do.

The meeting of the Oval Office ended without any firm commitment to raising American sanctions against Turkey or to sell advanced F-35 fighter planes, although Trump expressed his optimism about the two questions.

Turkey has been prevented for years from buying F-35s. In 2019, he was expelled from a program where he produced parts for the war aircraft after acquiring Russia air defense systems.

During a brief session of questions and answers alongside Erdogan in the oval office on Thursday, Trump said that he would like Turkey to stop “buying Russia oil while Russia continues its unleashing against Ukraine”.

“The best thing he can do is buy oil and gas from Russia,” said Trump. “If he did this, it would be the best thing.”

Trump added that he thought that Erdogan is respected both by Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and Russian president Vladimir Putin, which means that he could “have a great influence” on the war “if he wants it”.

Alongside India and China, Turkey is among the largest Moscow customers for oil and gas exports.

The comments of the US President come only a few weeks after saying that he was ready to impose more difficult sanctions on Russia if the NATO countries met conditions that included imports of Russian oil.

Earlier this week – during a long speech in the United Nations General Assembly – Trump also accused NATO allies of “finance the war against themselves” by their energy purchases in Moscow.

During Trump’s first term, the United States withdrew Turkey from the F-35 program after buying S-400 air surface missile systems in Russia.

A bill on American defense adopted in 2020 included an amendment which prevented Turkey from acquiring F -35, unless – and if – the United States government is able to certify that it has abandoned the Russian S -400.

Some American legislators have expressed concerns about the potential sale on Turkish military incursions in Syria and the past violations of Greek airspace.

Earlier this week, the Hellenic Bipartite Caucus in the US Congress warned against Turkey to buy F-35, citing its military cooperation with Russia and “contempt for international standards and democratic principles”.

In the oval office, however, Trump told Erdogan that he “managed” to buy the things he would like to “buy”.

“He needs certain things and we need certain things,” he said. “And we will arrive at a conclusion. You will know by the end of the day.”

In an interview with Fox News this week, Erdogan said about the ban on the F-35: “I don’t think it becomes a very strategic partnership.”

Trump also said that sanctions against Turkey – implemented in 2020 after the purchase of the S -400 – could be lifted “very soon”.

“If we have a good meeting, almost immediately,” he added.