President Trump expressed disappointment early Friday over his conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, acknowledging that Putin doesn’t seem inclined to end the ongoing conflict with Ukraine anytime soon.
“I felt quite disappointed after our chat on Thursday,” Trump shared with reporters after returning to Washington from an event in Iowa. “It seems there’s a disconnect with President Putin. It’s frustrating.”
He mentioned political strife, saying, “Biden’s war is really causing trouble. I felt like I was in the middle of it, like with immigrants and other issues they’ve messed up. But honestly, I wasn’t happy with the discussion.”
From the Kremlin’s perspective, Putin indicated during a nearly hour-long call that Russia will not “retreat” from its objectives in Ukraine, stating that any peace deal needs to take into account military interests, particularly in the eastern Donbas region. Additionally, Moscow has consistently dismissed proposals for ceasefires put forth by the U.S. and Europe, which have been endorsed by the Ukrainian government.
Before heading to Iowa, Trump remarked, “There was no progress made in my conversation with him.” Earlier in the week, the White House had confirmed that, after reviewing U.S. military supplies, it had halted shipments of missiles and other significant materials to Ukraine.
“Biden has depleted our resources, arming them instead. We really need to ensure we have enough for our own needs,” the former president asserted.
Trump stated, “We’ve provided so many weapons, and while we’re helping them, we also need to be cautious.”
Last week, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit in The Hague, later mentioning he was evaluating the possibility of sending a Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine. On Friday, he contacted Zelensky before heading out to play golf at his course in Northern Virginia.
Zelensky expressed gratitude, tweeting, “In Ukraine, we appreciate all the support we’ve received. It’s vital for protecting our lives and maintaining our freedom.” He added that they discussed air defense collaboration and agreed on future meetings to enhance protective efforts.
Meanwhile, overnight, Russia launched another significant attack on Ukraine, deploying more than 500 drones and 11 missiles, marking one of the largest aerial assaults in Kyiv’s history. At least 23 individuals sustained injuries from the brutal shelling.
In Washington, bipartisan pressures have intensified, resulting in a newly passed sanctions package aimed at tightening restrictions on Moscow. The Trump administration has urged lawmakers to reconsider punitive measures to avoid hindering potential peace talks with Russia.
