Putin 'really let me down' in Ukraine peace efforts: Trump
Sep 19, 2025
London [UK], September 19: US President Donald Trump said he has been "let down" by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin amid stalled peace efforts following weeks of Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Trump suggested he had initially thought the war, which he previously claimed he could end within one day of entering the White House, would have been "the easiest" of all conflicts to settle. But a peace deal appears to be no closer despite months of Washington-led talks, and Trump's ultimatums and deadlines for the Russian leader to engage with proposals have passed without obvious consequences.
Asked during his state visit to the United Kingdom on Thursday whether negotiations had run out of road, the US president said people were "being killed and I feel I have an obligation to get it settled for that reason."
During a press conference at the prime minister's estate, Chequers, Trump said: "I'm very honoured to tell you that we've solved seven wars, seven wars, wars that were unsolvable, wars that couldn't be negotiated or done, the US has done seven of them. The one that I thought would be easiest would be because of my relationship with President Putin, 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. I thought it might be among the easiest of the group."
Trump hailed an "unbreakable bond" between the United States and the United Kingdom as he met Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer said it was a "great day for the special relationship" as the pair met business chiefs at Chequers, the prime minister's country retreat.
Starmer said the UK-US relationship was "the very foundation of our security, our freedom and our prosperity." The pair signed a technology prosperity deal, offering major investment by US tech firms in the UK.
Source: Qatar Tribune
