Putin 'tapping' me along about peace, says Trump

Donald Trump yesterday said that he doubts if Vladimir Putin wants to end the war in Ukraine, expressing scepticism that a peace deal can be reached soon. Only a day earlier, Mr Trump had said Ukraine and Russia were “very close to a deal”.

- OLIVER O'CONNELL

There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Mr Trump said in a social media post as he flew back to the United States after attending Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican.

Mr Trump also hinted at further sanctions against Russia. “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!” Mr Trump wrote.