Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to end the war in Ukraine, Donald Trump has said as he raised the prospect of more sanctions on Russia.
The U.S. president told reporters aboard Air Force One that he was “very unhappy” with his earlier phone call with the Russian leader as Moscow said it would continue to pursue its war aims.
Trump has also teased further sanctions on Russia and suggested that the U.S. might supply Ukraine with Patriot missile systems.
Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment by email.
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Why It Matters
There has been an escalation in Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine that have killed and injured hundreds of civilians. Trump’s suggestion of help for Ukraine and his feeling that Putin is dragging his feet over any peace deal could add pressure on Moscow.
What To Know
Trump reiterated his disappointment with Putin following his phone call Thursday as the U.S. president reacted to Moscow delaying on any ceasefire deal.
Trump told reporters on Air Force One he was “very unhappy” with the phone call with Putin on Thursday, saying that the Russian president “just wants to go all the way and just keep killing people.”
The U.S. president had earlier said that he was “disappointed” with the phone call with Putin after which Russian forces conducted the largest combined strike on Ukraine of the war so far.
Trump also said “we talk about sanctions a lot” and that Putin “understands that it may be coming.”
Three Democratic senators, Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts) and Chris Coons (Delaware), have launched a probe into the five-month pause on new sanctions against Russia. Under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. imposed more than 6,200 sanctions against entities linked to Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Putin told Trump Russia was up for negotiations but will continue its military campaign because a diplomatic option that satisfies Russia’s objectives has not yet been presented.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Putin’s and Peskov’s statements show Moscow has not abandoned its war aims, which include government change, a pro-Russian proxy government in Kyiv, and limitations on Ukraine’s military.
Trump said that he had a “very strategic” conversation with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and added that the U.S. “might ” supply Patriot air-defense systems to Kyiv.
The U.S. leader said he had discussed with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz whether to send Patriot interceptor missiles to Kyiv.
This follows concern in Ukraine about the impact of the decision by the U.S. Defense Department to pause deliveries of several key weapons systems, including Patriot missiles and precision-guided munitions.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump told reporters: “It just seems like he (Putin) wants to go all the way and just keep killing people. It’s not good. I wasn’t happy with it.”
What Happens Next
It is unclear whether Trump will push for further sanctions on Russia, but Kyiv will be anticipating what effect the pause on some U.S. weapons will have for its war effort. Axios reported that Trump wants to help Ukraine with air defense amid an escalation of Russian attacks.
