President Donald Trump has publicly expressed growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticizing him for the continued violence in Ukraine and a lack of progress in diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting on July 8, Trump said he was “not happy” with Putin, characterizing the Russian leader’s recent communication as unproductive and misleading. “We get a lot of bulls**t thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said, adding, “He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Trump and Putin spoke by phone twice in recent weeks—once in June and again in early July—but according to Trump, the discussions did not yield any substantial breakthroughs. “The call did not produce results,” the president stated.
The tone of Trump’s remarks marked a notable shift in his posture toward the Kremlin. At a July 7 dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump voiced “disappointment” in Putin’s actions and reversed a recent Pentagon decision that had paused military aid to Ukraine.
The Pentagon had delayed shipments of weapons, including Patriot air defense systems, citing a review of U.S. stockpiles. Following criticism, Trump ordered the Defense Department to resume deliveries amid intensified Russian drone and missile strikes.
“We’re not happy with Putin. I’m not happy with Putin, I can tell you that much right now,” Trump said at the Cabinet meeting. “Because he’s killing a lot of people. And a lot of them are his soldiers.”
Trump’s latest comments reflect increasing pressure on the White House to hold Russia accountable for its ongoing military aggression, while reaffirming U.S. support for Ukraine through continued weapons deliveries and strategic backing.
