Politico: Trump's patience with Putin is wearing thin, but no decision on sanctions yet

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Photo: REUTERS

US President Donald Trump has made it clear that his patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin is running out, but he is undecided about his next steps.

According to his interlocutors, Trump is disappointed with Putin's lack of response to a proposal to reset relations after a peaceful settlement, but has not yet made a decision on new sanctions, Politico reports.

One administration official said that Putin «is dangerously close to burning the golden bridge that Trump has built to him». Although the American leader's frustration is growing, he has so far avoided sanctions pressure, believing that it could hurt American businesses and complicate dialogue with Moscow.

US officials report that Trump tends to avoid a forceful approach, preferring to persuade Putin diplomatically. However, some Republicans in the Senate insist on introducing new restrictions and are ready to support the bill if they receive a clear signal from the White House.

According to the newspaper, Europe fears that Trump may completely abandon the peace process without punishing Russia. Brussels also draws attention to the Kremlin's attempts to separate the topics of the war in Ukraine and relations with the United States, seeking to focus on economic rapprochement with Washington.

As a reminder, Trump criticised Putin, saying that he was «playing with fire». Prior to that, he said that Putin «had gone absolutely crazy». Trump also warned that an attempt to completely take over Ukraine could lead to the collapse of Russia itself.