New Delhi, July 16 -- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a stern warning on Wednesday, declaring that the organisation would impose "100% secondary sanctions" on countries continuing to trade oil and gas with Vladimir Putin's Russia. Backed by US President Donald Trump's shifted stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Rutte stated: "If you are the President of China, or the Prime Minister of India, or the President of Brazil, and you are still trading with the Russians and buying their oil and gas I will impose secondary sanctions at 100%."

Mark Rutte urged these nations to encourage Vladimir Putin to engage seriously in peace negotiations with Ukraine, emphasising that failure to do so would result in severe economic repercussions....