(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
In a White House meeting on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to cut off oil purchases from Russia. Trump made the push amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, calling the conflict a needless rampage that’s already cost millions of lives.
“I would like him to stop buying any oil from Russia,” Trump told reporters after the talks. He slammed Russia’s economy as in terrible shape and accused President Vladimir Putin of dragging out the fight without reason.
Erdogan sidestepped the oil comment, instead highlighting his dedication to boosting U.S.-Turkey relations. But Trump pressed on, praising Erdogan’s influence. “They really respect Erdogan. I do, and I think he could have a big impact if he wants to,” Trump said. He noted Erdogan’s neutral stance but suggested the best move would be for Turkey to halt imports of Russian oil and gas.
Trump didn’t hold back on Russia’s military struggles either. Despite intense bombardments over the past two weeks, he said Moscow has captured almost no territory. “I’m not going to call anybody a paper tiger, but Russia spent millions on bombs, missiles, ammo, and lives—and they’ve gained virtually nothing,” Trump remarked.
This echoes a post Trump shared earlier this week on Truth Social, where he labeled Russia a “paper tiger.” He wrote that a true military power could have wrapped up the Ukraine war in under a week, but Russia’s aimless fight for over three years makes it look weak.
The Kremlin fired back. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN that Russia isn’t a tiger—it’s a bear. “Paper bears don’t exist, and Russia is a real bear,” he quipped.
Trump also sees Erdogan as a key player in peace efforts. “President Erdogan is very respected by both sides,” he said, expressing hope that the Turkish leader could help bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.
On another front, Trump updated on Middle East talks. He mentioned ongoing discussions for a possible Israel-Hamas ceasefire after a strong United Nations General Assembly meeting. “We’re close to some kind of deal,” he said, stressing the urgency of freeing hostages.
Later Thursday, Trump planned to meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister as part of his busy schedule of one-on-one talks.
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