President Donald Trump says the clock is ticking on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking from the Oval Office after swearing in interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Trump fielded questions about the ongoing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He made it clear he’s watching Putin’s moves closely—and he’s not interested in being played.
“I can’t tell you that, but I’ll let you know in about two weeks,” Trump said when asked whether Putin is serious about peace. “We’re going to find out whether or not he’s tapping us along or not, and if he is, we’ll respond a little bit differently.”
While he stopped short of revealing what those consequences might be, Trump hinted that action is on the table if Russia is just stringing along negotiations without real intent to end the conflict. “The words speak pretty loud,” he said. “We’re not happy about that situation.”
Trump noted that Russia’s continued attacks in the middle of ongoing negotiations were deeply troubling. “I’m very disappointed at what happened a couple of nights now where people were killed in the middle of what you would call a negotiation,” he told reporters. “Very, very disappointed.”
These remarks come after Trump posted on Truth Social earlier in the week that Putin “has gone absolutely CRAZY.” He emphasized in that post that if Putin intends to take over all of Ukraine, it would be the “downfall of Russia.” He accused the Kremlin of launching missile and drone strikes into Ukrainian cities without justification, calling it senseless and destructive.
Despite the harsh words, Trump has not closed the door on diplomacy. He said Russia “seems to want to do something,” but made it clear that intent means nothing without action. “Until the document is signed, I can’t tell you,” he said.
The Kremlin has responded with a measured tone. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Trump’s role in getting negotiations off the ground, thanking him personally for the assistance. But he also chalked up Trump’s emotional language to the intensity of the moment, calling it a time of “emotional overload.”
Trump’s tone has been starkly different from the diplomatic caution seen under previous administrations. He’s thrown down the gauntlet, making it clear that this negotiation isn’t endless—and that there’s a price to pay if Russia is just dragging its feet.
In the meantime, the Trump administration continues to juggle multiple foreign policy priorities. From peace in Eastern Europe to rising tensions in the Middle East, Trump’s messaging is clear: the U.S. will engage, but it will not be played.
With a two-week deadline looming, the world now waits to see whether Putin will come to the table in good faith—or whether Trump’s next move will escalate things even further. Either way, the game is nearing its breaking point.
