Trump gives Putin 2 weeks for action on Ukraine as relationship frays

 

U.S. President Expresses Deep Disappointment Over Russia’s Escalation in Ukraine

President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent escalation of violence in Ukraine, casting doubt on Moscow’s commitment to peace talks and condemning recent deadly attacks.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump stated that U.S. efforts to facilitate peace between Russia and Ukraine were progressing, but he questioned whether Putin was negotiating sincerely.

“We’ll find out whether he’s stringing us along or not,” Trump said. “If he is, we’ll respond differently. But we’ll know more in a week and a half to two weeks. They act like they want a deal, but until something is signed, nobody can say for sure.”

Trump also condemned Russia’s recent strikes, which have continued despite a successful prisoner exchange just days ago.

“I’m very disappointed about what’s happened over the past couple of nights—people killed in the middle of negotiations,” he said. “When I see rockets fired into cities, that’s unacceptable. We’re not going to allow that to continue.”

Russia has intensified its bombing campaign across Ukrainian cities in recent weeks. The violence comes amid growing international concern, including a new U.N. report released Wednesday that accuses Russia of committing systematic war crimes against civilians in Ukraine’s Kherson region.

While Trump has often spoken admiringly of Putin in the past, his tone has shifted in light of the ongoing missile and drone attacks. He recently referred to the Russian leader as “CRAZY” and warned that Putin is “playing with fire.”

When pressed on why his administration has not imposed additional sanctions on Russia, Trump argued that doing so could jeopardize ongoing peace efforts.

“If I think I’m close to getting a deal, I don’t want to screw it up with sanctions,” he explained. “I’m tougher than the people you’re comparing me to—but you have to know when to use that strength.”

“This isn’t my war,” he added. “It’s Biden’s war, Zelenskyy’s war, Putin’s war. Not Trump’s.”

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. The war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides.