US President Donald Trump expressed strong frustration with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Sunday, saying he was “very angry, pissed off,” according to NBC. This marks a significant shift in tone as Washington continues efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
NBC’s Kristen Welker reported that Trump personally called her to voice his anger over Putin questioning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s future—a stance Trump himself has previously taken.
During her Sunday broadcast of “Meet The Press,” Welker quoted from her early-morning conversation with the president.
“If Russia and I can’t reach a deal to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I determine it was Russia’s fault… I will impose secondary tariffs on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump stated.
Trump reiterated his anger over Putin’s comments regarding Zelensky’s leadership, saying he was “very angry, pissed off” about the remarks.
Since taking office, Trump has pushed for a swift resolution to the war, now in its fourth year, but his administration has struggled to secure a breakthrough despite ongoing negotiations.
Putin recently dismissed a joint US-Ukrainian plan for a 30-day ceasefire and suggested that Zelensky should be removed from office as part of the peace process.
Speaking to NBC, Trump acknowledged his anger but maintained that he has “a very good relationship with [Putin]” and that his frustration “dissipates quickly… if he does the right thing.”
Russia Gains Confidence
Since Trump’s return to office, warming ties between Washington and Moscow—coupled with his threats to cut support for Kyiv—have strengthened Russia on the battlefield as it continues its struggling invasion.
Ukraine has accused Russia of prolonging negotiations without genuine intent to end its offensive. Fresh attacks were reported in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, where six strikes occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Ukrainian officials confirmed casualties, including two fatalities in a residential building and injuries among personnel at a military hospital.
Meanwhile, Russian forces advanced, capturing a village just seven kilometers (four miles) from the border of Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region, Moscow announced on Sunday. This marks a significant step, as Kremlin troops have been inching toward the region for months but had yet to breach its boundary since launching their offensive in 2022.
No Ceasefire Agreement
Putin, who has ruled Russia for 25 years and has repeatedly been elected in uncontested votes, has often questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, particularly since the Ukrainian leader’s initial five-year term ended in May 2024.
Under Ukrainian law, elections are suspended during major military conflicts, and Zelensky’s political rivals agree that no vote should take place until the war ends.
Trump has had a turbulent relationship with Zelensky, previously calling him a “dictator” and clashing with him publicly at the White House last month.
In his Saturday night address, Zelensky called on Ukraine’s allies to increase pressure on Putin.
“For too long, America’s proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has remained on the table without an adequate response from Russia,” Zelensky said.
“There could already be a ceasefire if real pressure were applied to Russia,” he added, thanking countries that have tightened sanctions on the Kremlin.
While both Moscow and Kyiv had agreed in principle to a Black Sea truce following discussions with US officials earlier this week, Russia insisted that implementation would depend on Ukraine’s allies lifting certain sanctions.
Explaining his proposed secondary tariffs, Trump told NBC, “If you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States.”
“There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25 to 50-point tariff on all oil,” he added, without elaborating.
UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo told AFP that targeting buyers—similar to Trump’s approach with Venezuela’s oil—could impact major importers like China and India.
“We’ll need to see what specific measures are announced in the coming days,” he cautioned.
