Saturday, March 29, 2025
Trump Admits Putin Ties ‘Meant Nothing’ in Failing to End Ukraine War
New York – September 24, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump has conceded that his personal relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin did not help in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, describing the war as his “biggest disappointment.”
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and in an informal exchange with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump said he once believed Ukraine would be the easiest conflict to end due to his ties with Putin. “I thought that would be the easiest one because of my relationship with Putin. But unfortunately, that relationship didn’t mean anything,” Trump admitted.
Trump went on to reassert his claim that he has helped bring an end to seven wars worldwide, crediting Macron with assisting in “a couple” of those. “They said they were unendable — some went on for 31 years, one for 36 years. I ended seven wars, all raging with countless thousands being killed. No other president or leader has done anything close,” he told world leaders.
However, he directed sharp criticism at the UN itself, accusing the organization of failing to play a meaningful role in global peace. “It’s not even coming close to living up to its potential. It’s empty words, and empty words don’t solve wars,” Trump said.
His comments come a month after the Alaska Summit with Putin, where both leaders expressed optimism about peace efforts in Ukraine but reached no concrete decisions. A plan for Russia and Ukraine to hold direct talks, followed by a possible trilateral meeting with Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has not progressed.
Trump’s tone on Ukraine has shifted over time. While at times he has said Zelensky lacks negotiating power against Moscow, he has also argued that Ukraine, with European backing, can reclaim all lost territory. More recently, Trump urged NATO members to shoot down Russian aircraft violating their airspace.
Writing on Truth Social after his meeting with Zelensky, Trump declared: “I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.”
