Russian President Vladimir Putin is growing increasingly frustrated with Donald Trump as Washington shows signs of greater support for Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
According to the FT, senior Ukrainian officials believe Trump has begun warming to stronger backing for Kyiv after being impressed by Ukraine’s recent military successes, particularly its long-range drone strikes on targets deep inside Russia.
The shift appears to have unsettled Moscow, where officials had expected Trump to pressure Ukraine into a rapid peace deal more favorable to the Kremlin. Instead, Russia now sees the US moving closer to Kyiv on key defense issues, including air defense, long-range capabilities and possible technology licensing.
The FT reported that Trump was “hugely impressed” by Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian military and industrial targets far from the front line. Those attacks have increasingly exposed Russia’s vulnerability at home and challenged the Kremlin’s claim that time is on Moscow’s side.