American President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he was frustrated by Vladimir Putin’s stance on the war in Ukraine, stating that he was « not thrilled » with the Russian leader’s attitude toward a conflict that continues to cause many casualties.
Speaking to the press at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump reiterated that he initially thought he could quickly end the war but acknowledged that the situation remains deadlocked. « I’m not thrilled with Putin. He kills too many people, » he said, alongside comments about the U.S. military operation in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
The American president specified that he did not mention Venezuela during his recent phone call with Putin, which lasted over two hours earlier this week. According to Trump, the discussions mainly focused on Ukraine, as Washington tries to revive diplomatic momentum to end hostilities.
Moscow, for its part, reacted by expressing concern over reports of the expulsion of Maduro and his wife following U.S. actions described as « aggressive. » The Russian Foreign Ministry called for their immediate release, highlighting rising tensions between major powers across several international theaters.
Trump’s statements come as fighting continues in Ukraine, with new strikes and civilian casualties reported in recent days. Despite his repeated promises to reach an agreement, the American president now publicly acknowledges the difficulty of changing the Kremlin’s position amid an increasingly unstable geopolitical context.
