During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, President Donald Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He accused Putin of being disingenuous with the United States amid efforts to resolve the situation.
“He’s killing a lot of people … his soldiers and their soldiers, mostly, and it’s now up to 7,000 a week,” Trump said while addressing the gathering at the White House.
“And I’m not happy with Putin,” he added. “I’m very unhappy with them.”
These remarks followed a recent announcement from the Pentagon, which had momentarily halted a shipment of weapons destined for Ukraine. Just one day prior, the president indicated that the U.S. would resume arms shipments to assist Ukraine in defending itself against Russian aggression.
When questioned about the pause in the weapons shipment, Trump claimed ignorance. “Why don’t you tell me?” he quipped to a reporter, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by his side.
Consistent with previous assertions, Trump insinuated that the foreign policy decisions made by his Democratic predecessors, Joe Biden and Barack Obama, played a significant role in provoking Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine in February 2022.
Trump remarked that the war turned out to be more challenging for Russia than anticipated, largely attributed to the military support the Ukrainians have received from the United States.
“That was a war … that should have never happened, and a lot of people are dying and it should end,” Trump stated.
He further voiced frustration about the information being received from Putin. “We get a lot of bulls— thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump remarked, adding that while Putin may appear courteous, such demeanor ultimately lacks substance.
The last phone conversation between Trump and Putin occurred on July 3, a call that the White House reported lasted nearly an hour. Following the conversation, Trump expressed disappointment to reporters, indicating that he felt Putin was not fully engaged.
“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don’t think he’s there,” Trump said while returning to Washington after a trip to Iowa. “I don’t think he’s looking to stop” the war in Ukraine, which he characterized as unfortunate.
