U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Russian leader Vladimir Putin but insists their relationship is not over. In an exclusive phone interview with the BBC, Trump said he was “disappointed” with recent developments, including Russia’s continued aggression in Eastern Europe and its strained relations with the West.
“I’m disappointed, sure,” Trump told the BBC. “But I’m not done with Putin. We’ve had our differences, but we’ve also had results. I believe we can still talk.”
Trump’s comments come at a time when tensions between Moscow and Western capitals are running high. Russia’s ongoing military presence near NATO borders, sanctions-related economic instability, and its hardened stance on global diplomacy have drawn harsh criticism from the U.S. and its allies.
Despite this, Trump stopped short of fully condemning Putin, suggesting that dialogue remains a better tool than isolation. “Putin hasn’t always played it right, but cutting him off completely is not the answer. We need strength, but we also need strategy,” Trump added during the BBC call.
He also hinted that if he were to return to office, he would take a “more balanced” approach to handling Russia, focused on negotiation rather than confrontation.
The interview marks one of Trump’s first direct public remarks on Putin in months and signals that the former president still sees value in maintaining some form of communication with the Kremlin.
