Posted on 03/30/2025 9:37:53 AM PDT by dennisw
Donald Trump went on tirade against Russian President Vladimir Putin during an early morning phone call on Sunday.
President repeatedly said he is 'pissed off' at Putin for questioning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's credibility and legitimacy after he insisted this week the war torn country needs new leadership.
Trump's seemingly-full-throated defense of Ukraine and its leader comes after he previously was critical of Zelensky and claimed he was 'sick' of handling the war and aiding Kyiv.
Speaking with NBC host Kristen Welker, Trump is now warning Russia it could face a new round of harsh economic sanctions for the flub in peace negotiations.
He said this would include a tariff of between 25 and 50 percent on oil from Russia, as well as a warning to other countries that if they do buy oil from Russia, 'you can't do business in the United States.'
Trump on Wednesday will unveil new rounds of tariffs that he says are part of a so-called 'Liberation Day' with an aim for the U.S. to stop relying on other countries and bring back business to the home land.
U.S. is leading peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the Eastern European war – while it appeared to be heading in the direction for a deal, that might have fallen apart this week.
'If we're in the midst of a negotiation, you could say that I was very angry, pissed off, when Putin said yesterday that – you know, when Putin started getting into Zelenskyy's credibility, because that's not going in the right location, you understand?' Trump told the Meet the Press host.
'What he wanted – and I mean, he thought, you know, started talking about new leadership,' he added. 'But new leadership means you're not gonna have a deal for a long time, right?'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
It’s a tough job when you have to be both the good cop and the bad cop to two separate sides.
Uh oh, I think I’m a Putin-pologist cause question it too.
“Don’t poke the bear” is what I always hear at FR. This looks like Trump just poked Putin and his bear. Is that a smirk on Bad Vlad’s face?
Zelensky doesn't have any credibility and Trump has indicated that decisions can be made without him. I can understand Putin's frustration though - the Ukraine has been bombing Russian energy infrastructure (Mar 22 - 24), then complaining they are being 'attacked' by Russia after retaliation on Mar 28, and Z is loudly telling the world that Ukraine will not concede anything in 'negotiations.' I think Trump's point here is that Putin should ignore Zelensky's ravings as Z is not a key player and elections will soon be held, whether Zelensky likes it or not. Yes, Z is going to work to destroy any peace agreement, but Putin and the rest of the world need to start ignoring Zelensky, as the Trump administration has clearly begun to do.
Putin must die!
DEATH TO PUTIN!!!
get er done
L’enfant terrible is discovering that Putin doesn’t want peace for the war he started. NATO can collapse because Trump ended U.S. support for it, or because Russia collapses again, splinters into parts, and never again threatens to invade another European nation. Trump controls that narrative, not Putin’s actions.
“...you’re not gonna have a deal for a long time, right?’”
Unfortunately, Trump, NATO and Ukraine are only negotiating amongst themselves.
Trump..FORGET THIS WAR.
No good can come of being involved in any way.
Well-said. That’s what it takes to be a peacemaker. And the clowns in the Deep States of the world are throwing wrenches all over the place, trying to sabotage the peacemaking process.
Right now Trump is the only advocate for the Russian and Ukrainian people who are being massacred. Everybody else is willing to sacrifice them all, even when neither side is ever going to gain more than they’ve already gained. Take what you’ve gained and call it quits before everybody is dead. If you’ve lost ground, admit it and move on.
Putin’s point is VERY SIMPLE: Zelensky is not legitimate, so if he signs an agreement, Ukraine is NOT BOUND to it...and thus they can claim to not be violating the agreement, since it was never valid.
So, Ukraine, get a LEGITIMATE government, and then, as the Neocons like to say, “The ball is in Putin’s Court”.
Bullshit
Bluster
Posturing for domestic consumption
Do FReepers actually bother reading something like this?
I do get your point but if Trump manages to pull off an end to the killing, that would be a good thing. But given the history of that part of the world, a permanent end to the killing might well be impossible.
If this is cover for enacting tariffs he wants to enact anyway, it's a brilliant strategy.
But, Trump is very likely to using Russia as cover to implement tariffs he wants to enact anyway.
Nah. It's okay to think they both suck.
Trump often uses economic threats as pressure. When the other side moves, he releases that pressure. That release is the reward.
But that’s not his only tool. He also uses economic incentives, praise, and flattery.
And, as everyone knows, he often adds an element of unpredictability to keep opponents off balance.
It’s not random or reactive—it’s deliberate and strategic. He reads the situation and adjusts the reinforcement to get the outcome he wants.
Yeah, this.
Screw both Zelenskyy and Putin...what about East Tennessee and North Carolina?
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