Washington, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump said his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin turned out to be “worthless” in resolving the Ukraine war, after realizing that Putin was pursuing his own agenda.
In a private discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron at the United Nations General Assembly, Trump recounted seven conflicts he claims to have helped end, acknowledging that Macron deserved some credit for these achievements.
Trump expressed disappointment over the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, noting that he had expected his personal rapport with Putin to simplify peace efforts. “Unfortunately, that relationship has no value,” he remarked.
Addressing the General Assembly, Trump highlighted his record, emphasizing that thousands of lives were at stake in the seven conflicts he ended—some lasting over three decades. He asserted that no other world leader had achieved similar results.
Trump also criticized the United Nations’ role in global conflict resolution, saying, “They have not come close to their potential. They only talk empty words. And empty words do not end wars.”
Regarding Ukraine, Trump reportedly met with Putin in Alaska a month ago to explore peace initiatives. The plan included potential bilateral talks between Russia and Ukraine, with a possible later meeting involving Trump, Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—though no such tripartite meeting has taken place.
Trump’s position on Ukraine appears nuanced. While he told Zelensky he was not yet ready for negotiations with Russia, he also asserted that Ukraine could reclaim all territories occupied by Russian forces.
In recent statements on Truth Social, Trump suggested that Ukraine could achieve victory with European Union support, and he urged NATO members to intercept any unauthorized Russian drones or aircraft. Several NATO countries have recently reported Russian aircraft violations, which the Kremlin denies, claiming its planes remained over international waters.
