 "‘Disappointed, but not done yet’: Trump on Putin and failure of talks to end Ukraine war")
In a revealing 20-minute phone interview with the BBC, US President Donald Trump expressed his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. “I trust almost nobody,” Trump stated when asked whether he trusted Putin, highlighting a relationship defined more by disillusionment than diplomacy. Despite four failed efforts to broker a ceasefire deal, Trump emphasised that he’s not ready to give up entirely: “I’m disappointed in him, but I’m not done with him.”
Trump’s comments come just after a White House meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, where the president reaffirmed his support for Nato’s collective defence—an organisation he once branded “obsolete.” The shift signals a recalibration in Trump’s geopolitical posture as the war in Ukraine drags into its third year.
Deadlines, tariffs and strategic delays
The president’s latest plan includes a 100 percent tariff on Russian goods, contingent on a peace deal being reached within 50 days. “If there’s no ceasefire in 50 days, the tariffs come in hard,” Trump declared. Critics, however, argue the timeline plays directly into Putin’s hands. As Firstpost reported, Putin allegedly told Trump in a July 3 call that Russia intends to mount a major ground offensive over the next 60 days. Trump’s 50-day tariff window would expire after that offensive is complete, effectively giving Putin a green light to escalate his assault on Ukraine.
Empty ultimatum or calculated leverage?
While Trump’s allies tout his 50-day deadline as an ultimatum, critics see it as an empty gesture. “We’ll have a great conversation… then he’ll knock down a building in Kyiv,” Trump told the BBC, illustrating Putin’s recurring pattern of false hope followed by destruction. These remarks suggest Trump sees himself as a dealmaker caught in a loop of broken promises, though still unwilling to abandon talks outright.
Personal reflection, strategic ambiguity
Whether Trump’s wait-and-see approach is a tactical pause or a diplomatic miscalculation, one thing is clear that he may be disappointed in Putin, but he’s not out of the game yet.
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