During a recent White House meeting with oil and gas executives on January 9, President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While the main discussion centered on U.S. energy interests in Venezuela, reporters also asked Trump about a wide range of international issues, including his thoughts on Greenland and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
When asked whether he would consider “capturing Vladimir Putin,” referencing the U.S. operation that brought Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife to Manhattan to face federal charges, Trump said he did not believe such a measure would be necessary. However, he acknowledged his disappointment with Russia’s lack of willingness to pursue a fair peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump stated, “Well, I don’t think it’s going to be necessary. I think we are going to have… I have always had a great relationship with him, I am very disappointed.” He also highlighted his record, claiming that since returning to the White House in January, he has “settled eight wars,” and expressed confidence that brokering peace in Ukraine could be “one of the easier” challenges, given his past ties with Putin.
Although Trump has frequently described his relationship with Putin as warm, such as during their August meeting in Alaska, he has previously voiced frustration with the Russian leader. In September, during a joint press conference with U.K. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Trump said, “He’s killing many people, and he’s losing more people than he’s killing. The Russian soldiers are being killed at a higher rate than the Ukrainian soldiers.” He admitted that while he initially believed his relationship with Putin might make peace negotiations easier, he ultimately felt let down.
Trump has also previously criticized Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Joe Biden for their roles in the conflict, emphasizing the complex diplomatic challenges surrounding the war.
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