During a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump shocked public opinion by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin—whom he once referred to as a 'good friend'—a 'useless liar', while stating he is 'very seriously' considering supporting a tough sanctions bill aimed at the Russian energy sector.
The sanctions bill against Russia: Is Trump about to give the 'green light'?
The sanctions bill has been drafted for months and has received broad support from both Republican and Democratic parties in the U.S. Congress. However, Republican leaders have so far been waiting for clear guidance from Trump before pushing it through.
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump said: 'I am considering that. This is an optional bill. They only pass it if I allow it. And ending it is completely up to me. And I am taking it very seriously.'
If passed, the bill would impose high taxes on countries importing energy from Russia and target any foreign companies supporting Russia in oil and gas production—a heavy blow to the Russian economy, which is heavily dependent on energy exports.
From soft to tough: Trump changes attitude towards Putin
Trump's attitude towards Putin has shown clear signs of change in recent months. Previously, during a meeting with the German Chancellor, he criticized the bill as 'too strict' and told allies that sanctions would not be effective in changing Putin's behavior.
However, remarks on Tuesday indicated a clear change. An anonymous White House official revealed that Trump's 'pivot' might be aimed at strengthening leverage over Putin, rather than a firm commitment to sign the bill.
The relationship between Trump and Putin is at a low point. Trump once hoped the Russian leader would quickly help end the war in Ukraine—a hope that has not materialized. Instead of cooperating, Putin refused to attend the peace conference in Istanbul organized by the U.S., and increased attacks on Kyiv as well as many other cities in Ukraine.
'I don’t understand what the hell is going on with Putin,' Trump said in May, later writing on social media that: 'He has completely GONE CRAZY.' This is not the first time Trump has expressed frustration, but it is the clearest indication that the relationship between the two has deeply fractured.
Broken friendship: Trump accuses Putin of 'lying', promises to resume aid for Ukraine
Tensions peaked after a more than hour-long phone call between Trump and Putin last week. According to Trump, the conversation 'did not go well'. 'We had to listen to a lot of nonsense from Putin, if you want to know the truth,' he said angrily.
Notably, that statement came just a day after Trump announced he would resume military aid transfers to Ukraine—which had been paused the previous week due to concerns about the U.S. military's dwindling stockpile.
The U.S. Department of Defense conducted an assessment indicating that continuing aid could affect the combat readiness of the U.S. military. When asked if he was informed in advance about the decision to pause that aid, Trump replied: 'I don’t know. You should go ask them.'
This ambiguity raises many questions about who is really behind the decision to stop aid—amid ongoing Russian airstrikes and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's continuous calls for more support from the West.
The bill is unsigned, pressure has increased
Although Trump has not signed off on the sanctions bill, his shift in stance has put significant pressure on Congress. Amid the ongoing escalation of the Ukraine conflict, U.S. military aid being interrupted, and U.S.-Russia relations at a low point, Trump's tough language sends a clear message: he is no longer willing to be patient with Putin as before.
The fate of the sanctions bill remains uncertain, but the U.S. political scene has felt a distinct change from someone who once proudly called himself 'Putin's friend'. And it seems that this time, Trump is genuinely preparing to take action.