Former President Donald Trump’s promise to end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office has faced a significant setback, highlighting the complexities of international diplomacy and his misunderstanding of Vladimir Putin’s intentions.
Trump, who has consistently praised Putin over the years and maintained what he believed to be a strong relationship with the Russian leader, recently expressed frustration after Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, just days after their two-hour discussion about a potential ceasefire.
According to MSNBC, Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska observed that “Putin is making a mockery of Trump, and Trump keeps attacking Zelenskyy,” pointing to the growing disconnect between Trump’s diplomatic approach and the reality on the ground in Ukraine.
Trump’s relationship with Putin reveals deeper diplomatic challenges
The former president’s response to Putin’s recent actions revealed a surprising admission of powerlessness. Taking to Truth Social, Trump expressed his disbelief at Putin’s behavior, stating that while they had always maintained a good relationship, something had changed, and Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY.”
President Trump when are you going to stand up to President Putin? He is making a mockery of you and the United States.
— Travis Trent (@mrtravistrent) May 27, 2025
This reaction demonstrates Trump’s apparent shock at Putin’s brutal tactics, despite the Russian leader’s long-established pattern of aggressive behavior. Trump’s statement that Putin is “needlessly killing a lot of people” seems to ignore the fact that such actions have been characteristic of Putin’s leadership style for years.
Throughout his presidency and beyond, Trump has consistently sided with Putin on various international issues, even going as far as to defend the Russian leader when confronted about his actions. In a notable 2017 Fox News interview, when the anchor described Putin as a “killer,” Trump deflected by questioning America’s own innocence.
The situation has exposed a fundamental misreading of Putin’s character and intentions. While Trump has spent years cultivating what he believed to be a friendship with Putin through praise and policy alignment, including criticizing NATO allies and supporting Russian positions at the United Nations, Putin’s recent actions suggest he views this relationship quite differently.
Analysts note that both Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping appear to have a clearer understanding of Trump’s character than many others. Despite Trump’s reputation as a strong negotiator, Putin’s actions suggest he recognizes Trump’s susceptibility to flattery and his need for validation, effectively undermining the former president’s diplomatic efforts in the region.
