Trump says Putin has 'really let me down' on Ukraine peace efforts

President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin has really let him down on Ukraine peace efforts, telling reporters in London that his relationship with the Kremlin leader had not yielded the promised breakthrough. “The one that I thought would be easiest would be because of my relationship with President Putin,” Trump said during a joint press conference with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “But he's let me down. He's really let me down. Was going to be Russia and Ukraine. But we'll see how that turns out.” He added that the war’s course could defy expectations and that diplomacy can produce outcomes that differ from what was anticipated.

Trump argued that the conflict’s path has shown how things can pivot, suggesting that even a hopeful personal rapport with Putin could not deliver a swift settlement. He spoke as months of United States–led diplomacy have failed to secure a decisive end to the fighting, and as Western governments weigh how to sustain Kyiv’s defense while managing domestic political constraints. He noted that the war has produced enormous civilian casualties and described the broader human cost, while insisting that, in his view, the conflict does not directly threaten the United States.

Trump also referenced the broader diplomatic backdrop, including an Alaska summit years earlier in which he and Putin met. He said that despite those efforts, a settlement has remained elusive and that the situation underscores how complex international diplomacy can be. He described the war as a humanitarian catastrophe, noting that millions of lives have been affected and emphasizing a perceived obligation to seek a settlement that would end the bloodshed.

In Washington, Ukrainian officials have signaled that they expect substantial U.S. weaponry to flow in the near term to support Kyiv’s defense. Zelenskyy has described plans to receive Patriot air-defense systems and HIMARS missiles as part of a broad package funded by European partners. He said Kyiv had already received more than $2 billion in support through the so‑called Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, and projected that total funding would reach about $3.5–3.6 billion by October. The United States has approved the first new weapons packages under PURL this week, including two $500 million shipments that are intended to streamline allied contributions into U.S.-procured systems. A senior administration official said the effort is designed to align with “America First” priorities while pursuing an end to the war through coordinated alliance action.

The PURL framework pools allied funds to buy advanced systems from U.S. defense firms, rather than sending cash directly to Kyiv. Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and other NATO members are seen as leading contributors, though the exact breakdown has not been made public. A U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system is among the high-end items Ukraine says it will soon receive under the program.

Trump’s approach to arming Ukraine via allied funding has won cautious support from some Republicans who have questioned additional direct U.S. taxpayer funding for Kyiv. The shift complements a broader policy debate about how to sustain Kyiv’s arsenal while avoiding new congressional strains.

At the same time, recent U.S. military calculations have highlighted limits on stockpiles and the pace of weapons shipments. In July, the Pentagon paused some weapon deliveries to Ukraine to reassess inventories and ensuring that Washington’s own security needs and other obligations are balanced. Officials have said they are reviewing stockpiles and supply priorities to avoid shortages that could hinder other operations in the region and beyond. The war has underscored strains in the defense industrial base, with leaders acknowledging the challenge of replenishing high-end systems while Russia’s expansive use of inexpensive drones and artillery places a premium on cost-effective defenses.

The Army has signaled a push to accelerate the production of munitions, including doubling the monthly output of 150mm artillery rounds through greater automation and new manufacturing approaches. Military executives have stressed the importance of developing cheaper, faster-to-produce alternatives that can counter mass drone swarms without rendering unsustainable cost, and they have urged industry to innovate toward more affordable defenses.

As Ukraine braces for continued support from Western allies, officials say the war’s outcome will hinge on a combination of diplomatic pressure, sustained weapons supply, and the capacity to outpace Russia’s battlefield tactics. Zelenskyy and other European leaders will likely weigh the next steps at upcoming international forums as Washington recalibrates how best to mobilize international resources to end the conflict.