Trump “Disappointed” in Putin After Fresh Attacks, But Stops Short of Blame

U.S. President Donald Trump voiced his “disappointment” over Russia’s latest missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities but stopped short of condemning Vladimir Putin, avoiding labeling him a “bad guy” during remarks in the Oval Office on Friday, The Gaze reports, citing CNN.

“We were going to solve a problem, and then all of a sudden, rockets got shot into a couple of cities and people died,” Trump told reporters. “I saw things that I was surprised at, and I don’t like being surprised, so I’m very disappointed.”

When asked directly if he now considered the Russian president to be the “bad guy,” Trump deflected: “And Zelensky, too,” he said, suggesting that both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders have been difficult to deal with during peace efforts.

The remarks come days after a phone call between Trump and Putin, during which the Russian leader reportedly committed to drafting a “memorandum of peace.” However, U.S. officials confirmed that no such document has been received, more than a week later.

The delay has added to the U.S. president’s growing frustration, sources say, with Trump now considering new sanctionson Moscow. “He’s weighing options,” a senior administration official said. “He still wants a deal, but he’s running out of patience.”

While Trump has previously boasted of his ability to broker peace in Ukraine “within 24 hours,” recent developments have cast doubt on that pledge. The president has emphasized restraint in publicly criticizing Putin, even as bipartisan pressure in Congress mounts for stronger punitive action against Russia.

Trump’s hesitance to take a harder line comes amid criticism from allies and critics alike. Ukrainian officials noted that while Putin delays delivering on his promises, Russian forces are intensifying attacks, most recently killing over a dozen civilians in a nighttime strike on Kyiv.

Despite Trump’s reluctance to publicly rebuke Putin, senior U.S. officials said the possibility of additional sanctions — especially targeting Russian energy and defense sectors — is under review.

As The Gaze previously reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately stalling the war and deceiving global partners by failing to follow through on its diplomatic commitments—most notably, the promised memorandum on ceasefire negotiations.