Trump tires of Putin's "bullsh*t"
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Trump and Putin in Helsinki in 2018. Photo: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP via Getty
President Trump has been touting his friendly relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin for nearly a decade, but he lamented Tuesday that Putin's warm words are ultimately "meaningless."
- "We get a lot of bullsh*t thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless," Trump said at a Cabinet meeting.
Why it matters: Trump took office confident he could swiftly convince Putin to make peace, even claiming for a time that the real obstacle was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- While Trump's position has repeatedly zig-zagged since, his sympathies currently appear to be almost entirely with the Ukrainians.
- Trump lifted a freeze on defensive weapons for Kyiv on Monday, and on Tuesday said he was "strongly" considering a package to put steep sanctions on Russia.
Reality check: So far, Trump has resisted pressure to take any significant action to punish Putin for his unwillingness to make peace and repeated bombardments of Ukrainian cities.
Between the lines: The latest major Russian aerial attack came hours after Putin spoke to Trump by phone on Friday.
- Trump said he was "very disappointed" in that call and has repeatedly criticized Putin since.
- This is arguably the harshest line Trump has taken on Putin thus far and the warmest point in his relationship with Zelensky.
What to watch: It remains unclear if that will last, or whether Trump will take steps — like increasing arms shipments or signing the sanctions bill — that would really hit Putin where it hurts.
