US President Donald Trump has voiced biting disappointment at Russian President Vladimir Putin, charging him with lying as the conflict in Russia-Ukraine rages. Donald Trump, who had earlier boasted that he could solve the war in 24 hours, has hitherto not managed to achieve a ceasefire. As much as they have tried, fighting between Russia and Ukraine has hardened, with no indication of relenting.
Donald Trump now declares that Vladimir Putin “talks nice and then bombs everybody,” and threatened additional sanctions. He also affirmed that the US will deploy Patriot missiles to Ukraine, but has not yet decided on the quantity. This is as Trump accuses Putin of deceiving Washington with dishonest assurances.
Trump Voices Frustration Over Putin’s Actions
Telling reporters on Sunday that he was growing “disappointed” with Putin, Trump accused the Russian President of making nice gestures in negotiations while persisting with escalating attacks on Ukraine.
“Putin surprised a lot of people. He speaks well and then he bombs everyone in the evening,” Trump said.
Trump told the Israeli prime minister he had thought Putin was sincere about peace. “I thought he was a guy who meant what he said. And he spoke so eloquently, but then he bombed everyone at night. We don’t like that,” he said.
These comments are a change in tone for Trump, who earlier hinted that he had a special knack for affecting Putin.
No Progress on Ceasefire Despite Bold Promises
Since assuming office, Trump has continued to assert that he can end the war in no time. Throughout his campaign and after being sworn into office, he asserted that he could do a deal in one day.
However, reality has been different. Russia and Ukraine have continued to escalate their military offensives. Trump’s attempts at facilitating peace have not made any tangible progress.
Despite his confidence, European leaders and previous US administrations, including President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, warned that Putin could not be trusted. Trump dismissed those warnings at the time.
Trump Confirms Patriot Missiles for Ukraine
While struggling to make diplomatic progress, Trump has approved new military support. He confirmed that Ukraine will receive US Patriot missile systems to defend against continued Russian attacks.
“I haven’t settled on the amount yet, but they are going to have some because they do require protection,” Trump added.
Putin Allegedly Duped the US
Trump recently intensified his attacks on Putin, alleging that he was being deceitful. Speaking at a cabinet session, Trump stated, “We receive a lot of bullshit from Putin, if you want to know the truth.”
He had called Putin “very nice all of the time,” but then said that the friendly conversation “ends up being worthless.”
Tensions Escalate as War Enters Fourth Year
As the Russia-Ukraine war goes into its fourth year, Trump has threatened to impose additional sanctions on Moscow. But while his tough rhetoric, his initial bravado about how he would handle Putin have yet to yield any positive results.
The widening gap between Trump’s rhetoric and the reality of the war could define how his allies and critics evaluate his foreign policy in the future.
