In a clear change of attitude from the usual closeness and even admiration for Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he is considering imposing additional sanctions against Moscow due to the lack of progress in negotiations for a ceasefire with Ukraine.
Last Thursday, Trump and Putin had a phone conversation, but a few hours later, Russia carried out one of the largest-scale bombings against Kiev, the Ukrainian capital.
Why does Trump change his attitude towards Putin?
When the President of the United States was asked if he agrees with a bill proposed by the Senate to impose more sanctions on Russia, Trump said he is “seriously considering” the document. “It’s an option,” he said during a meeting with his cabinet at the White House.
“It is a war that should never have happened, and many people are dying. It should end. I don’t know, Putin tells us many lies (...) He is always very kind, but it turns out that it doesn’t make sense,” stated the president to the press.
In his straightforward style, Trump used the vulgar expression “bullshit” to refer to Putin’s lies.
The President of the United States stressed that he and his administration are not “happy”, as Putin is “killing a lot of people, and many of them are his soldiers.” Trump estimated that 7,000 soldiers are dying every week.
The United States reactivates the shipment of weapons to Ukraine
Last week, the Pentagon led by Pete Hegseth announced the suspension of sending arms to Kiev to prevent “shortages” in the American arsenal. The measure surprised the State Department, some senators, and the rationale was questioned by several specialists.
After that, Ukrainian authorities summoned the charge d’affaires of the United States Embassy, John Ginkel, to warn that any possible delay or cancellation in the shipment of weapons will only serve to “encourage the aggressor.”
Trump confirmed on Tuesday that said determination has been reversed and said, “we want to implement defensive weapons because Putin is not treating human beings well. He is killing too many people, so we are sending defensive weapons to Ukraine and I have already approved it,” said the president.
Anyway, sitting next to Hegseth in the cabinet meeting, Trump said he didn’t know who had given the order to stop the shipment of weapons.