As the war in Ukraine continues into its third year, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain a global concern. While all the countries in the world are trying their best to resolve it, the USA is a key player in international negotiations. They have maintained a complex and often scrutinised relationship with Russia. In a recent interview, the situation appears to have escalated further.
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In a recent interview with the BBC, POTUS offered rare insight into his administration's ongoing attempts to negotiate a resolution to the war, his evolving views on Russian President Vladimir Putin, and how the situation is shaping his broader foreign policy approach. President Trump has opened up about his changing stance on Russian President Putin, expressing disappointment in how attempts at diplomacy over the Ukraine war have unfolded.
Trump 'disappointed' but not done with Putin
In a BBC interview, Trump said that negotiations between the two leaders had come close to reaching peace. However, the progress was ultimately undone by renewed Russian aggression.
Describing a cycle of false starts and military escalation, Trump shared that he thought a deal to end the war in Ukraine was on the cards four different times, but to no avail. When asked by the BBC if he was 'done' with Putin after getting repeatedly betrayed, he said:
I'm disappointed in him, but I'm not done with him. But I'm disappointed in him.
On being questioned further about how he plans to stop Putin from stopping the bloodshed, he said:
We're working at it.
We'll have a great conversation. I'll say: 'That's good, I'll think we're close to getting it done,' and then he'll knock down a building in Kyiv.
That said, Trump also added that his broader approach to global politics has changed and said:
I trust almost nobody.
Trump on military support and tariff pressure
The interview also touched on recent moves from the Trump administration to pressure Russia more directly. Trump announced plans to send weapons to Ukraine and warned of severe economic consequences if a ceasefire isn't reached.
According to the BBC, he has given Russia 50 days to comply before imposing 100% tariffs on Russian goods, a measure aimed at compelling de-escalation through economic means.
Trump also used the conversation to highlight what he described as a stronger NATO, commending member countries for committing to spend about 5% of their GDP on defence. He affirmed his support for collective defence, calling NATO 'more powerful than ever before' and 'very unified.' He added:
Nobody thought that was possible.
In the same interview, Trump spoke about his upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom in September. While he won't be giving a speech in Parliament, he praised the UK's leadership under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and described his relationship with the country as positive.
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Source used:
BBC: I'm 'disappointed but not done' with Putin, Trump tells BBC
