Trump says he is ‘very disappointed’ with Putin over Ukraine, not worried about China-Russia ties
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US President Donald Trump speaking in the Oval Office of the White House on Sept 2.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
- Trump voices disappointment in Putin over the war in Ukraine, promising action to reduce deaths and help people live.
- Trump plans to help guarantee Ukraine's security in any deal and threatens Russia with further sanctions for no progress.
- Trump dismisses concerns about a potential Russia-China axis against the U.S., citing America's military strength.
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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said on Sept 2 that he was “very disappointed” in Russian President Vladimir Putin, and added without elaborating that his administration was planning to take some actions to bring down the death toll in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Republican leader also said he was not concerned about warm ties between Russia and China.
Mr Trump held a summit with Mr Putin in Alaska in mid-August, and subsequently met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European and Nato alliance leaders
Following those meetings, Mr Trump said he expected Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin to hold a bilateral meeting ahead of a trilateral meeting that would include him.
Mr Zelensky later said Russia was doing everything it could to prevent a meeting
Mr Trump said in an interview on The Scott Jennings Radio Show: “I am very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we will be doing something to help people live.”
Mr Trump has told Mr Zelensky that Washington would help guarantee Ukraine’s security in any deal. He has also renewed a threat to impose further sanctions on Russia if there is no progress towards a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.
Russia occupies about a fifth of Ukraine, and Mr Trump has said “land-swopping” and changes to territory will be crucial for any settlement.
Ukraine opposes the idea of legally recognising any Ukrainian territory as Russian. But it has tacitly acknowledged that it will almost certainly have to accept some de facto territorial losses.
Mr Trump was asked in the interview if he was concerned “about an axis forming against the United States with China and Russia”.
“I am not concerned at all,” he replied. “We have the strongest military in the world, by far. They would never use their military on us. Believe me.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Mr Putin for talks in China, calling him his “old friend”.
Mr Xi also held talks on Sept 1 with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose country has been targeted by Mr Trump over its purchases of Russian oil.
China kicked off its largest-ever military parade on Sept 3 in a show of its growing firepower and geopolitical clout, as Mr Xi sought to cast Beijing as the custodian of a post-US international order.
Mr Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, said: “May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.” REUTERS
