During Donald Trump's second term as US President, his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to rekindle. Trump praised Putin and criticized long-standing US allies, even blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the ongoing war in his country and briefly halting US military aid to Ukraine. Putin welcomed Trump's return, hoping for improved relations.
However, as Russia escalated attacks on Ukrainian cities, including after a Trump-Putin phone call, Trump began to express disappointment, accusing Putin of duplicity. Despite multiple failed peace negotiations and Trump's self-styled image as a dealmaker, no resolution was reached. Over time, Trump's tone shifted; he called Putin "crazy" and expressed regret over trusting him. Yet, given Trump's unpredictable nature, the possibility of another shift in the relationship remains open.
(This video summary was created using AI. A journalist edited it before publication.)