NAIROBI, Kenya — Aboard Air Force One and clearly exasperated, U.S. President Donald Trump didn’t mince words when recounting his latest call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump says Putin “just wants to keep killing people,” and he’s not happy about it.
“It’s a very tough situation,” Trump told reporters on Friday. “I told you I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way—just keep killing people. It’s no good.”
And just like that, one of the most powerful diplomatic conversations in the world became headline news.
For months, Trump has played a careful game with sanctions against Moscow—holding off while urging Putin to reconsider his warpath in Ukraine. But now, it seems, his patience is wearing thin.
“We talk about sanctions a lot,” Trump said. “He understands that it may be coming.”
While no firm measures have been rolled out, the tone shift is unmistakable. If you’re reading between the lines, it sounds a lot like Trump is finally ready to tighten the economic screws.
The shift comes amid increasing pressure from global leaders and members of Congress to act more decisively as Russia continues its aggression.
Trump didn’t just spend Friday on the phone with Putin. He also held what he called a “very strategic call” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The focus? Bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses after one of the largest missile and drone barrages of the war.
Zelensky confirmed the call, saying both leaders had agreed to work together to strengthen Ukraine’s aerial shield against ongoing Russian strikes.
Meanwhile, Trump had another phone call—this one with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—to discuss the possibility of sending Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine. The verdict? Not quite there yet, but the discussion is clearly on the table.
“Merz feels they have to be protected,” Trump noted, suggesting the German leader is pushing for stronger defensive support, even if the final call hasn’t been made.
Trump’s candid comments mark a notable shift in his tone toward Putin—one that could finally lead to the kind of sanctions and military assistance Ukraine has been waiting for.
Whether it was the human toll, strategic calculus, or political pressure that changed his mind, Friday’s flurry of phone calls made one thing clear: Washington’s Ukraine policy is at a turning point.
And if Trump’s words are any indication, the gloves might be coming off.
