US President Donald Trump’s once-friendly tone toward Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be turning cold, after promising to end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office, Trump has watched the conflict spiral into deeper violence. Now, nearly seven months into his second term, Trump has openly expressed his frustration with Putin and pledged to send advanced Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.
The US president’s interactions signal not only a diplomatic turn, but a significant departure from the personal regard he once showed for the Russian leader. With no peace agreement in view, and Russian bombardments increasing throughout Ukrainian cities, Trump’s patience is clearly wearing thin.
“He Talks Nice, Then Bombs Everybody”
On Sunday, Trump lashed out at Putin’s tactics, saying, “Putin really surprised a lot of people, he talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening.” The comment marks a significant shift from Trump’s earlier praise, when he called Putin a “very kind” man just last month.
Trump didn’t stop there, on July 9, he told reporters, “We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth… He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.” The remarks make clear that Trump is no longer convinced Putin will end the war on any favorable terms.
Patriots for Ukraine: A Strategic U-Turn
Adding weight to his rhetoric, Trump pledged to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews after attending the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey, he said, “We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need.”
He clarified that the quantity had not yet been decided but confirmed, “They’re going to have some because they do need protection.” This move marks a sharp reversal from earlier this month, when the White House indicated a pause in military aid to Kyiv.
New Sanctions on the Horizon
Trump also hinted at imposing fresh sanctions on Russia. When asked if sanctions were imminent, he responded, “We’re going to see what we will see tomorrow, OK?” This comes as Trump prepares to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and as the US special envoy begins a new trip to Ukraine.
Interestingly, Trump revealed that under the revised policy, NATO would pay the United States for some of the weapons sent to Ukraine. “It’ll be business for us,” he said, reinforcing his transactional approach to foreign aid.
A Complete Policy Reversal
Trump’s latest comments and actions stand in stark contrast to his earlier views. In April, he went as far as blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for provoking Russia. “You don’t start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles,” he had said.
That sentiment has clearly evolved. With escalating violence and no diplomatic breakthrough, Trump is pivoting back to Kyiv’s side — and publicly calling out a former “friend” in the Kremlin.
