New Delhi, July 17, 2025 — Senior journalist and foreign affairs expert Waiel Awwad has sharply criticized the United States and NATO for what he described as “empty rhetoric” aimed at pressuring Russia, following threats of secondary sanctions against India, China, and Brazil.
Speaking to ANI, Awwad said the recent statements by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte were part of a broader strategy to isolate Moscow—one that has failed over the past three years. “They wanted to isolate Russia, but they have failed. This is all rhetoric to put pressure on Russia,” Awwad remarked.
Rutte, during a press conference in Washington alongside U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Jeanne Shaheen, warned that nations continuing trade with Russia could face “100 per cent secondary sanctions” if Moscow does not commit to peace talks on Ukraine. He urged leaders in Delhi, Beijing, and Brasília to “make the phone call to Vladimir Putin” and push for negotiations.
Awwad dismissed the warnings as lacking substance, noting that the U.S. has resorted to such tactics after failing to diplomatically or economically isolate Russia. “There’s a lot of rhetoric coming from the US and NATO forces because they know the war with Russia will continue,” he said, adding that the U.S. is now escalating military support to Ukraine, including advanced weapons systems.
The NATO chief’s remarks echoed President Donald Trump’s recent ultimatum to Russia: reach a peace agreement within 50 days or face sweeping economic penalties. Trump also announced a new tranche of military aid to Ukraine, funded largely by European allies.
Meanwhile, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal have introduced the “Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025,” which proposes tariffs as high as 500% on countries aiding Russia economically. India, a major buyer of Russian oil, was singled out as “propping up Putin’s war machine”.
As tensions mount, Awwad’s critique underscores growing skepticism among foreign policy experts about the effectiveness of Western pressure tactics. With major economies resisting alignment, the geopolitical fault lines around the Ukraine conflict continue to deepen.
Expert Accuses US of Rhetorical Pressure Tactics in NATO Sanctions Warning
