Trump hits Putin where it hurts as he slams Russian president over war

Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, calling the conflict “horrible” and warning that Russia’s economy is “collapsing.”

Speaking from the White House alongside Argentine President Javier Milei, Trump said the war now approaching its fourth year is damaging Moscow’s global image. “Putin has got to really settle this war,” he said. “You know, they have long lines waiting for gasoline in Russia right now. His economy is going to collapse. I’d like to see him do well I had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin but he just doesn’t want to end that war.”

The U.S. President noted that Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries have hit the Kremlin where it hurts most its energy sector leading to fuel shortages and soaring prices at the pump.

In his sharpest comments yet, Trump said Russia “should have won that war in one week,” but instead, the drawn-out conflict has made Putin “look very bad.” He also expressed frustration with Moscow’s resistance to peace efforts, saying Russia’s heavy losses are “unacceptable.”

Trump cited intelligence claiming that Russia has suffered around 1.5 million casualties, exceeding the 1.1 million estimated by the UK Ministry of Defence. Other Western sources estimate losses closer to one million.

In a striking shift from his earlier stance, Trump dismissed Russia as “a paper tiger” and said Ukraine could still regain all of its occupied territory. “Who would have thought Ukraine could fight Russia for four years to essentially a standstill?” he said during the press conference.

Trump is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday. He hinted that the U.S. may consider supplying long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv. “Maybe I’ll talk to him,” Trump told reporters. “If the war isn’t settled, I might send them the Tomahawks.”

The Tomahawk cruise missiles have a range exceeding 1,500 miles, capable of striking deep inside Russia, including Moscow itself. However, the Kremlin has warned that such a move would “destroy relations” between Washington and Moscow and lead to a “major escalation.”

As the Ukraine war drags on, Trump’s remarks highlight growing U.S. impatience with Putin’s strategy and reflect a potential policy shift that could significantly reshape the balance of power in Eastern Europe.