Former President Donald Trump made headlines again on Friday after blasting Russian President Vladimir Putin over fresh attacks on Ukraine. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he was “not happy” with Putin and warned that a long-awaited peace meeting between Russia and Ukraine must happen soon.
The president revealed that Putin wants to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, but tied the Russian leader’s hopes to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump made it clear that his patience is running out.
Trump set a two-week deadline for progress on peace talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I think over the next two weeks, we’re going to find out which way it’s going to go,” Trump said. “And, I’d better be thrilled.”
The former president warned that if the talks don’t move forward, he would respond with “massive sanctions” or “massive tariffs” on Russia. But in true Trump fashion, he also left the door open to doing nothing at all — a sign that he wants maximum flexibility.
This isn’t the first time Trump has threatened strict action against Russia but failed to follow through. Still, his blunt comments mark another public split with Putin, who has recently escalated attacks on Ukrainian targets.
In a surprising twist, Trump tied the conflict to the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across several American cities, including Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, and San Francisco.
Trump announced that the official drawing for the World Cup will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He then revealed that Putin sent him a personal photo ahead of the tournament.
“I was just sent a picture from someone who wants to be there very badly,” Trump said, holding up the photo for reporters. “This is a man named Vladimir Putin.”
Trump smiled slightly as he looked at the image. “I thought it was a nice picture of him. Okay with me, but nice of him,” he said.
The unusual moment quickly went viral, showing the complicated relationship between Trump and the Russian leader — part friendly, part confrontational.
“I’m Not Happy” with Putin
Despite the photo exchange, Trump did not hold back his anger over Russia’s latest strikes. He pointed to a factory in Ukraine that was recently hit by Russian forces.
“I told him I’m not happy about it. I’m not happy about anything having to do with that war,” Trump said.
Trump repeated his long-standing claim that the war in Ukraine “never would have happened” if he had been in the White House from the beginning.
“This was caused by stupid people who fought,” he said, once again insisting that Putin knew he would have taken a harder line.
Whether Trump’s two-week ultimatum will lead to real movement on peace talks remains unclear. Analysts note that Putin is unlikely to be pressured into making concessions by World Cup politics or Trump’s threats of tariffs.
Still, Trump’s words signal that he is trying to frame himself as the only leader who can bring peace to Europe. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, and Trump eyeing another potential run at the presidency, his message is clear: he wants the world to believe that only he can keep Putin in check.
For now, all eyes will be on whether Putin and Zelensky agree to meet. Trump says the world will know “within two weeks” if peace talks are real or just another broken promise.
