WASHINGTON D.C. – US President Donald Trump has told the BBC that he is “disappointed but not done” with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, in an exclusive phone call from the Oval Office. The interview, which took place on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, saw President Trump address his stance on Russia, Ukraine, and the NATO alliance.
The interview was conducted a year after an assassination attempt on President Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. When asked if surviving the attempt had changed him, he stated he preferred to think about it as little as possible, adding that dwelling on it “could be life-changing.” Following a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte at the White House, President Trump dedicated a significant portion of the interview to elaborating on his disappointment with Mr. Putin, noting that he had believed a deal to end the war in Ukraine was close on four separate occasions.
When pressed on whether he trusts the Russian leader, President Trump responded, “I trust almost nobody.” His remarks came hours after he announced plans to send weapons to Ukraine and issued a warning of severe tariffs on Russia if a ceasefire deal is not reached within 50 days.
In a notable shift from previous comments, the President also endorsed NATO during the 20-minute call, having previously described the alliance as obsolete, and reaffirmed his support for its common defence principle.
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