Washington (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he is disappointed but “not done” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a BBC interview published on Tuesday. Trump was pushed on whether he trusts Putin and responded: “I trust almost no one.”
The US president was speaking hours after he revealed plans to dispatch arms to Kyiv and cautioned of harsh tariffs on Moscow if there was no agreement in 50 days.
According to the BBC, Trump made the phone call that lasted 20 minutes to the British broadcasting after discussions regarding a potential interview to observe one year since the attempt on him at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Why is Trump disappointed but not done with Putin?
The BBC asked Trump if he was done with the Russian president, he said:
“I’m disappointed in him, but I’m not done with him. But I’m disappointed in him”.
In an interview from the Oval Office, Trump reaffirmed his support for NATO, despite previously calling it outdated, and voiced backing for the organisation’s principle of collective defence.
After meeting NATO head Mark Rutte at the White House, the president dedicated much of the interview to expressing his disappointment with Putin.
He mentioned that he had considered a deal to conclude the fighting in Ukraine with Russia four separate times.
Pushed on how he would get the Russian president to
“stop the bloodshed,”
Trump said:
“We’re working at it, Gary.”
“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.”
Why does Trump believe global leaders respect him?
Moreover, he said that the heads of nations, including Germany, France, and Spain, had developed respect for him and his decision-making, partly because world leaders considered that there was a “lot of talent” in being elected to the office twice.
When questioned whether world leaders were at times
“obvious in their flattery”,
Trump replied that he felt they were
“just trying to be nice”.
How does Trump plan to support Ukraine militarily?
The US president announced new arms deliveries for Kyiv on Monday and threatened restrict measures on consumers of Russian exports, with a 50-day grace duration, unless Moscow consented to a peace agreement, a significant approach shift brought on by frustration with Russia’s continued aggression against its neighbour, Reuters reported.
On Monday, he informed reporters that NATO will send billions of dollars worth of U.S. weapons, including Patriot air defence missiles, to Kyiv and that the military coalition will cover the costs.
“We’re going to make top-of-the-line weapons, and they’ll be sent to NATO,”
Trump stated, adding that the US’s NATO partners would bear for them.
“It’s a full complement with the batteries,”
He stated.
“We’re going to have some come very soon, within days… a couple of the countries that have Patriots are going to swap over and will replace the Patriots with the ones they have.”
