Trump Expresses disappointment with Putin but says work with him is not done

Kokcha News Agency – U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with BBC in a phone interview, addressing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, his views on NATO, and his second official visit to the UK, scheduled for September.

Trump, who recently met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and gave Russia a 50-day ultimatum to reach an agreement in the Ukraine conflict, expressed disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin but emphasized that his work with him is not over. When asked if he trusts Putin, Trump replied, “I hardly trust anyone.”

The U.S. President had previously announced plans to send weapons to Ukraine and threatened to impose a 100% tariff increase on Russia if it fails to reach an agreement within 50 days. In the interview, Trump also reflected on the assassination attempt he faced last year, stating that he prefers not to dwell on it, as doing so would have a “life-changing” effect.

Trump repeatedly expressed his disappointment with Putin, revealing that he believed a deal with Russia was possible on four different occasions. “He disappointed me, but I’m not done with him,” Trump said. When asked how he would convince Putin to “stop the bloodshed,” Trump responded, “We’re working on it, Garry.” He recounted that he thought they were close to a deal during one of their meetings, only for Russia to later attack a building in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.

On the topic of NATO, Trump, who has previously criticized the alliance, now believes that NATO is becoming more relevant. “No, I think NATO is now becoming the opposite of obsolete,” he said, emphasizing his belief in collective defense as a means for smaller countries to protect themselves against larger ones.

Regarding the UK, Trump expressed optimism about its future, mentioning that he owns property there. He also shared his excitement for his upcoming visit in September, stating that he looks forward to “having a good time and paying respect to King Charles,” whom he described as a “wonderful gentleman.”