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| President Donald Trump once called Russian President Vladimir Putin "very smart" and "genius" — but is now striking a noticeably different tone. |
WASHINGTON — The once-close relationship between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has notably cooled in the current term. However, Trump has not yet disclosed the level of pressure he is willing to apply on Russia to end its ongoing war with Ukraine.
Since assuming office, Trump has steered away from praising Putin's "genius" or "savvy." Instead, he has been warning that the Russian president, whom he once deemed "very smart," is leading Russia to ruin by continuing the war.
“He [Putin] should make a deal,” Trump said on his first day back in the White House. “I think he’s destroying Russia by not making a deal. I think Russia is going to be in big trouble.”
This shift in rhetoric is rooted in practicality. During his campaign, Trump vowed to end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office. That timeline has expired, meaning Trump’s promise to halt a war that began nearly three years ago, when Russia invaded its democratic neighbor, is growing more urgent.
To bring the war to an end, Trump needs both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations. For Russia, this would mean abandoning the ambition of fully annexing Ukraine.
Trump said in his first days back in office that Ukraine is prepared for talks, but he questioned whether Russia is willing to negotiate.
“Well, you’re going to have to ask Russia,” he remarked.
Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia, noted that Trump's current remarks about Putin are some of the most critical he has ever made.
The Russian embassy has not responded to requests for comment.
Pressure on Putin National security experts argue that mere words won’t convince Putin to back down in Ukraine. To make him change course, Trump must demonstrate that continuing the war will be futile.
That’s easier said than done. Putin has shown little interest in peace talks while Russian forces continue making slow gains in Ukraine's east. Ukrainian forces also hold seized territory within Russia’s Kursk region, according to John Herbst, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.
“He [Putin] doesn’t want to negotiate now because his troops are moving forward,” said Herbst. “He wants to seize more Ukrainian land before talks begin.”
Sergii Leshchenko, an adviser to Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, told NBC News that Ukraine is open to negotiations, but only on the condition that they are fair discussions, not ultimatums from Russia. “In this case, Ukraine has shown a will to negotiate. Russia does not,” he said.
The extent of Trump’s actions toward Russia remains unclear, including whether he would consider increasing military aid to Ukraine, such as sending long-range missiles.
Trump does have various tools at his disposal to influence Putin’s decision. The question is whether he will use them.
The Trump administration temporarily delayed shipments of weapons to Ukraine last week, though the reason for this delay remains unclear. Shipments have resumed since. Withholding weapons would severely hamper Ukraine's efforts against Russia's larger military.
Asked about the pause, the White House National Security Council pointed to Trump’s recent comments regarding Ukraine.
During an Oval Office appearance, Trump told reporters that he would consider linking financial aid to Ukraine to securing rare earth minerals in return. “We’re putting in hundreds of billions of dollars,” Trump said. “They [the Ukrainians] have great rare earth. And I want security of the rare earth, and they’re willing to do it."
Diverging Opinions in Trump’s Administration Trump’s advisers and Cabinet members are divided on how much pressure to apply. National security adviser Mike Waltz and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg have advocated for using U.S. leverage to push Putin into negotiations, according to sources familiar with the matter. Others, however, suggest reducing U.S. aid to Ukraine as a means to hasten the end of the war. Critics warn this would effectively disarm Ukraine, making it vulnerable to Russian dominance.
Before becoming vice president, JD Vance, now a U.S. senator, was a vocal critic of the financial aid sent to Ukraine, calling the government “the most corrupt” in Europe and questioning why the U.S. spent billions abroad while struggling at home.
Kellogg, however, emphasized in a statement that Trump’s national security team is aligned in its approach. “The president will use, as necessary, all levers of American strength to enable a conclusion to the carnage of the past three years,” he added.
Trump has also floated ideas for assisting Ukraine while continuing to pressure Russia. In a social media post two days after his inauguration, Trump warned that he would impose tariffs, sanctions, and taxes on Russian goods if Putin did not agree to negotiations to end the war. However, this approach may be less effective, as U.S. trade with Russia has diminished sharply. In 2021, the U.S. imported nearly $30 billion worth of goods from Russia, but this figure dropped to about $2.9 billion last year.
“There’s no leverage there,” a former Biden administration official said. “We’ve effectively disconnected the U.S. economy from Russia's.”
An alternative strategy could be using Russia’s frozen assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort. William Taylor, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, suggested that the $300 billion in Russian reserves currently held in U.S. and European banks could be used to support Ukraine's defense and government.
“What Trump could do is pressure the Europeans to seize those reserves and put them into an account for the Ukrainians,” Taylor said. “That could go a long way in helping Ukraine continue to operate and buy weapons.”
Trump is aware of Russia’s fragile economy and the leverage he might have over Putin through further sanctions. It’s possible that, as Trump considers his approach, he could find further ways to pressure Russia to end its war.
Concerns Among Ukraine's Supporters Many Ukrainians feared that Trump, upon returning to office, might abandon them or make concessions favorable to Russia. His previous praise for Putin fueled concerns that he could push for a deal that undermined Ukraine’s sovereignty.
During a debate with then-Vice President Kamala Harris last year, Trump avoided explicitly stating whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war. However, some of those who once doubted Trump’s ability to be an honest broker have seen positive developments in his rhetoric and actions now that he’s in office.
“I think Trump has started to realize how hard resolving this issue is,” a U.S. official involved in Ukraine and Russia policy said. “It’s dawning on him that Russia will not cooperate unless more pressure is applied.”
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