WARNING: Use of strong language
US President Donald Trump is not happy with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to the press during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said the United States got a lot of “BS” thrown at them by President Putin, using the full expletive to emphasize his point.
US efforts to broker a ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine have so far failed, and that Washington’s posture might also be shifting as a result.
The headlines say it all – take Politico: Trump, finally fed up with Putin, teases more Russian sanctions or the Guardian with this: Has Trump-Putin bromance finally run it course, or
NBC News: Trump unloads on Putin after promising more military aid to Ukraine … after these comments from President Trump during Tuesday Cabinet meeting at the White House.
“We’re not happy with Putin. I’m not happy with Putin. I can tell you that much right now, because he’s killing a lot of people and a lot of them are his soldiers, his soldiers and their soldiers, mostly. And it’s now up to 7,000 a week. And I’m not happy with Putin. We get a lot of ‘BS’ 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,” said Trump.
As if to dismiss the criticism, Russia launched a record 728 drones at Ukraine overnight, the latest in a series of escalating air assaults in recent weeks that have involved not only drones, but ballistic missiles that have strained Ukraine’s air defences, with Trump promising additional defensive weapons to Ukraine in this exchange with journalists.
Journalist: Last week, the Pentagon paused some shipments of weapons to Ukraine. Did you approve of that pause?
Trump: We want to put defensive weapons because Putin is not. He’s not treating human beings right. He’s killing too many people. So, we’re sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I’ve approved that.
Journalist: So, who ordered the pause last week?
Trump: I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?
Trump also said he was considering supporting a Senate sanctions package against Russia that could include 500% tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil, gas and uranium among other Russian exports.
“I’m looking at it. I’m looking. The Senate is passing and passed very, very tough sanctions. Yeah, I’m looking at it.”
Journalist: Will you sign that?
Trump: It’s an optional bill. It’s totally at my option. They passed it totally at my option. And to terminate totally at my option. And I’m looking at it very strongly.
Noting Trump’s criticism, this was the Kremlin’s response through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
“We are quite calm about this. First of all, Trump has, so to speak, a rather tough style in terms of the phrases he uses and so on. We also heard a very important statement by Trump that the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict turned out to be much more difficult than he thought from the very beginning. This is what we have been saying from the very beginning, that it is not possible to resolve (the conflict) overnight. Therefore, we are calm about this. We expect to continue our dialogue with Washington and our line on repairing the rather broken bilateral relations.”
While Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had ordered expanded contacts with the United States to ensure critical deliveries of military supplies.
“I instructed the Minister of Defense and the Commander In Chief to intensify all contacts with the American side. We currently have the necessary political statements and decisions, and we must implement them as quickly as possible to protect our people and positions. This primarily concerns air defence, as well as all other elements of supply from the US. These are critical deliveries that mean saving lives and protecting Ukrainian cities and villages. I expect results from these contacts very soon, and this week, we are preparing formats for meetings of our military and political teams,” he said, as initial rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine – mediated by the United States – have delivered little progress towards a cessation of hostilities that could lead to further substantive peace talks.
President Trump returned to the White House in January after promising to end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours despite widespread skepticism around such a sweeping pronouncement.
Trump also floated additional sanctions against Russia for months, but has favoured a diplomatic track thus far, frustrating European allies who have remained cautious amid what was viewed as somewhat of a detente between Washington and Moscow.
Two rounds of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine have taken place this year, but those efforts now appear to have stalled.
The question remains what will President Trump do next?
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