Trump Expresses Disappointment Over Putin’s Response to Ukraine Conflict
Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he feels let down by Russian President Vladimir Putin for not engaging with his efforts to halt the ongoing war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for increased pressure on the Russian leader.
During a joint press conference with Starmer, Trump remarked that his inability to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end stands as his “greatest disappointment.” However, he did not specify any forthcoming actions he might take against Putin.
Trump urged Western allies to cease purchasing Russian oil in an attempt to persuade Putin to participate in negotiations. Nevertheless, he has not implemented any additional unilateral measures against Moscow.
Earlier in August, Trump held a summit with Putin in Alaska, leaving his allies puzzled by his continued openness towards the Russian president.
He expressed that he initially believed the war in Ukraine would be one of the “easier” conflicts to resolve due to his relationship with Putin, but has since felt betrayed, saying, “He really let me down.” Despite this, Trump remained confident that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine would eventually come to a conclusion.
Starmer is positioning himself as a bridge between Trump and European allies, particularly concerning the war in Ukraine, seeking to secure further commitments from the former U.S. president in support of Kyiv.
While Starmer was careful not to apply direct pressure on Trump, he indicated that discussions were held regarding ways to increase pressure on Putin “decisively.” He stated, “We need to apply additional pressure on Putin,” noting that the Russian leader has shown little willingness to act unless pressured by Trump. He added, “We must escalate this pressure.”