President Donald Trump has taken a new approach towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking out against him amidst the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The once seemingly amicable relationship between the two leaders has deteriorated, with Trump now openly criticizing Putin.
In a recent Cabinet meeting on July 8, Trump expressed his frustration with Putin and hinted at the possibility of imposing new sanctions on Russia. He bluntly stated, “We get a lot of bulls— 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.”
According to John Hardie, Russia program deputy director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Trump’s attitude towards Russia shifted back in March when Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire, but Russia did not cooperate. Hardie mentioned that Trump views the Russians as the main obstacle to a peace deal and is particularly irked by their drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.
The tensions escalated further after Trump’s announcement on July 14 that he would consider imposing “severe tariffs” on Russia if they did not agree to a peace deal within a specified timeframe. The deadline was subsequently reduced to only 10–12 days, prompting former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to warn against escalating towards war.
In response to Russia’s threats, Trump disclosed that two U.S. Navy submarines would be repositioned to counter the growing Russian aggression. This move was intended to pressure Russia into negotiations and deter further conflict.
Despite the heightened tensions, there have been efforts to de-escalate the situation. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin recently, and Trump acknowledged “great progress” following the meeting. Plans for a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin are in the works to advance negotiations and end the war in Ukraine.
However, there are doubts about the outcome of the meeting, with Hardie expressing skepticism about Putin’s intentions. Russia has been pushing for concessions in the peace deal that include restricting Ukraine from joining NATO and adjusting borders.
As the deadline for Russia to signal willingness to end the conflict approaches, Trump has indicated that any further economic burdens on Russia will depend on Putin’s response. The White House is open to meetings with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to achieve a resolution to the conflict.
