Trump calls Putin "hard cookie,” threatens new sanctions over Ukraine stalemate

In a recent interview with Newsmax TV, US President Donald Trump shared his latest views on Russian President Vladimir Putin, the threat of nuclear war, and the effectiveness of sanctions amid ongoing tensions over Ukraine.

Asked whether his perception of Putin had changed in recent months, Trump replied, “He (Vladimir Putin) is definitely a hard cookie, so it hasn't changed in that way.”

Addressing concerns about a potential nuclear escalation, Trump responded to comments made by Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, who recently mentioned the possibility of nuclear conflict.

“He was talking about nuclear weapons. And when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have to be ready — and we are fully ready,” Trump told reporters, emphasising the United States’ preparedness.

The president also commented on the impact of sanctions against Russia. While acknowledging that Moscow has shown resilience under previous sanctions, Trump reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to impose additional measures.

“We will put sanctions. He (Russian President Vladimir Putin) is very good with sanctions, he knows how to avoid sanctions,” Trump said, when asked what actions he would take if a peace deal over Ukraine is not reached within ten days.

In the same exchange, Trump said he plans to engage directly with the Russian leadership ahead of the deadline he imposed for a resolution on Ukraine. “Well, we'll see. We will have several meetings. And we'll see what happens next,” he noted.

Tensions between Washington and Moscow escalated further after Trump ordered the deployment of US nuclear submarines to “relevant regions,” a move that followed his demand for Russia to agree to a peace settlement on Ukraine within ten days. Medvedev sharply criticised the ultimatum on social media, calling it a provocation and a step toward war.

By Tamilla Hasanova