Aboard Air Force One on Friday, President Donald Trump expressed deep frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the ongoing war in Ukraine, describing their recent phone call as troubling.
“I told you, I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin,” Trump told reporters. “He just wants to keep going, keep killing people — it’s no good.”
Trump’s comments mark a rare public rebuke of the Russian leader and come amid growing pressure on the White House to take a harder line against Moscow. For the past six months, Trump has resisted calls to escalate sanctions, citing efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. But on Friday, he signaled a potential shift.
“We talk about sanctions a lot,” Trump said. “He understands that it may be coming.”
Call with Zelensky, Air Defense Talks
Trump also revealed he had a “very strategic call” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier in the day, as Kyiv continues to push Washington for more military support. The conversation followed what Ukraine described as the largest Russian missile and drone assault since the start of the war.
Zelensky said both leaders agreed to work together to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.
Trump confirmed he had also spoken separately with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about possibly sending Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. While no final decision has been made, Trump said Merz “feels they have to be protected.”
The U.S. and its European allies have faced criticism over delays in delivering promised weapons and aid, as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and cities.
Trump’s latest remarks suggest a possible hardening of his stance toward the Kremlin, as he weighs further military and economic support for Ukraine.
