US President Donald Trump attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, denouncing his ongoing aggression in Ukraine and threatening possible US action that would be “a little surprise.”
Addressing a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump denounced Putin’s overtures of peace as insincere, referring to them as “meaningless.” “We see a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin,” he said, suggesting that Russia’s public cordiality conceals increasing conflict on the ground.
Trump also expressed serious consideration of new Senate-backed sanctions on Russia, emphasizing growing concern over the rising death toll. “I’m not happy with Putin… he’s killing a lot of people his soldiers and theirs. It’s now up to 7,000 a week,” he said.
Overturning an earlier move to suspend arms shipments, Trump asserted the US will be shipping additional defensive weapons to Ukraine, including 10 Patriot missile systems. “The Ukrainians were courageous, but we supplied them with the greatest gear ever manufactured,” he said, attributing US assistance to Ukraine’s toughness.
Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to speed up weapons manufacturing and called on contractors to increase production.
Also, Trump spoke about economic policy, stating that he would not postpone higher tariffs scheduled to go into effect August 1 on scores of countries. Although he earlier this week threatened flexibility, now he insists the increases will go forward as planned. “No extensions will be given,” he tweeted on Truth Social. “There will be no adjustment.”
Trump’s aggressive approach to Russia and trade comes as tensions build at home and abroad and on the heels of his bombastic remarks on the Israel-Iran conflict. Moscow has yet to react to Trump’s most recent comments.
