US President Donald Trump on Tuesday slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing frustration over stalled peace efforts in Ukraine and suggesting he may support additional sanctions on Moscow.
“We get a lot of bullsh**t 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,” Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House. When asked about a Senate-backed sanctions bill targeting Russia, Trump said, “I am looking at it very strongly.”
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump doubled down on his disapproval of Putin’s actions, calling a recent phone call with the Russian leader disappointing. “I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people. It’s no good,” Trump said. Trump also indicated he may soon take a tougher stance on Moscow, after months of restraint. “We talk about sanctions a lot,” he said. “He understands that it may be coming.” Furthermore, during a White House dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced plans to send additional weapons to Ukraine, stressing the urgency of the situation. “We have to send some more weapons,” Trump told reporters. “They need to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard right now.”
He added that the aid would focus on defensive equipment. “We’re going to have to send more weapons, primarily defensive ones. It’s a terrible situation. So many people are dying in that mess.”
Meanwhile, Trump described a recent conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “very strategic,” noting ongoing US concerns about military aid to Kyiv. Zelensky confirmed the two leaders discussed improving Ukraine’s air defenses following Russia’s most intense drone and missile assault since the invasion began.