Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, described President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin as “very good friends” who are working to deepen ties between the two countries.
The Context
Gabbard’s comments in an interview with Indian news network NDTV come as Trump and Putin are set to speak this week regarding a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.
What To Know
The director of national intelligence emphasized the relationship between the U.S. and Russia, telling NDTV that Trump is committed to fostering a partnership built on “peace, prosperity, freedom, and security.”
“We have two leaders of two great countries who are very good friends and very focused on how we can strengthen the shared objectives and shared interests,” Gabbard told the network. Portions of the interview were released Monday ahead of its full broadcast.
Associated Press
Tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine hit a boiling point late last month when Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a televised Oval Office meeting, with Trump angrily accusing Zelensky of “gambling with World War III.”
Zelensky’s visit to Washington, D.C., was part of his effort to emphasize to Trump that Putin has repeatedly violated previous ceasefire agreements. The visit came after Ukraine was left out of initial talks between Washington and Moscow about ending the war.
Following the explosive Oval Office clash, Trump paused U.S. military assistance to Ukraine and halted some intelligence-sharing with its longtime ally. This prompted Zelensky to say he was ready to sign a rare earth minerals deal that the Trump administration has pushed for in exchange for continued aid to Ukraine.
Russia, meanwhile, celebrated the fracture in U.S.-Ukraine ties and the Trump administration’s apparent pivot toward Russia, as well as the shockwaves that Trump’s treatment of Zelensky sent throughout Europe and the U.S.’s NATO allies.
Last week, Ukraine agreed to the U.S.’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, subject to the Kremlin’s agreement.
What People Are Saying
Gabbard criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine war, telling NDTV: “Under the previous administration, there was no effort at all towards peace or direct dialogue with Putin to bring an end to this war. So, in a very short period of time, Trump has made much more progress towards peace than any other previous effort.”
What Happens Next
Trump and Putin are slated to speak over the phone on Tuesday.
This article contains reporting by the Associated Press.
Update 3/17/25, 6:41 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
