Trump Expresses Displeasure with Putin Over Ukraine, Hints at Possible Sanctions

 Trump Expresses Displeasure with Putin Over Ukraine, Hints at Possible Sanctions

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday expressed strong dissatisfaction with a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, accusing the Kremlin leader of showing no interest in ending the conflict.

“It’s a very tough situation. I told you I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way—just keep killing people. It’s no good,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

The president suggested that he may finally consider tightening sanctions on Russia, after months of restraint in an attempt to convince Putin to halt the invasion.

“We talk about sanctions a lot,” Trump said. “He understands that it may be coming.”

In contrast, Trump described a separate conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “very strategic,” amid growing concern in Kyiv over delayed U.S. military assistance.

Trump also mentioned discussing the potential deployment of Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine during a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Although no final decision has been made, Trump noted that Merz believes Ukraine “has to be protected.”