On Sunday, former President Donald Trump conveyed his trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin as they navigate the complexities of a peace deal in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump remarked, “I don’t think he’s going to go back on his word. You’re talking about Putin. I’ve known him for a long time, and we’ve always gotten along well.” This statement appeared to mark a shift in Trump's earlier tone, as he had expressed frustration with Putin just hours before.
In an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker, Trump had expressed his anger towards Putin, stating, “If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia.” His comments highlighted his complex relationship with the Russian leader, oscillating between trust and skepticism.
Later that evening, Trump voiced his discontent regarding Putin's recent criticisms of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The former president noted, “Some of the things that he said over the last day or two, having to do with Zelenskyy because when he considers Zelenskyy not credible — he’s supposed to be making a deal with him, whether you like him or you don’t like him. So I wasn’t happy with that.” This criticism reflects Trump's ongoing ambivalence towards Zelenskyy, which has been evident in recent months.
Trump further criticized Zelenskyy for potentially reneging on a minerals deal that the Trump administration had been negotiating. This agreement involved Ukraine trading mineral rights for American assistance, a deal that was reportedly set to be finalized in February before tensions escalated. “I see he’s trying to back out of the rare earth deal,” Trump stated. “And if he does that, he’s got some problems. Big, big problems. We made a deal on rare earth, and now he’s saying, well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal.”
During his remarks, Trump reiterated his long-standing assertion that he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict swiftly, even claiming he could do so on his first day back in office. However, he clarified that he currently does not have a specific deadline for Putin to adhere to regarding peace talks. “It’s a psychological deadline. If I think they’re tapping us along, I will not be happy about it,” he concluded.
