Trump’s tough talk to Putin: Will he back it up with policy?
Donald Trump has warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin he is “playing with fire” in his continued war against Ukraine. But why has the US president changed his tone so greatly after previously parroting Russian propaganda?
Listen to this article
Read time: 5 minutes
In brief…
- Trump has said Putin is “playing with fire” by continuing strikes on Ukraine, having failed to secure the promised peace deal he once said could be achieved in just 24 hours.
- Former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos suggests Trump's statement about preventing "bad things" from happening to Russia was essentially an admission that he's been protecting Putin, he adds that Trump's tough talk hasn't been backed by actual supportive actions for Ukraine.
- Senator Lindsey Graham has proposed a "bone-crushing" sanctions package with bipartisan support that could be veto-proof, though Polymeropoulos doubts sanctions alone will be sufficient to stop Putin without also providing weapons to Ukraine.
What’s the story?
After months of cosying up to Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump has now warned the Russian dictator that he is "playing with fire" after conducting a fresh wave of drone and missile attacks in Ukraine.
The warning came, of course, on Trump's preferred method of communicating with world leaders – social media.
Specifically, the social media platform he owns, Truth Social, where he wrote: "What Vladimir Putin doesn't realise is that if it weren't for me, lots of bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire!"
It is Trump’s second social media outburst aimed at Putin this week, having previously called him “absolutely crazy”.
During his second term in The White House, Donald Trump has repeatedly blamed Ukraine for Russia's illegal invasion, and launched a public verbal attack on its leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a televised meeting between the two in February 2025.
The News Agents have previously said Trump's admiration for Putin had resulted in Russian propaganda becoming White House talking points – with the president echoing unfounded claims about the war.
But Putin wasn't impressed – or certainly, not impressed enough to work with Trump to agree on a peace deal, something the MAGA Republican once claimed he could achieve in just 24 hours.
Will Trump’s language translate into action?
Marc Polymeropoulos, one of the CIA’s most highly decorated operations officers, says he has PTSD from Trump sharing his foreign policy via Truth Social posts in his first term as President - and now he’s back at it.
He says the language Trump used - in particular, saying ‘if it weren't for me, lots of bad things would have already happened’ - was effectively a “tacit admission” from Trump that he has been helping Putin.
“I think this is Trump in essence lashing out but not realising that he's actually admitting he has been covering for Putin,” Polymeropoulos says.
While he may be lashing out, it’s all talk for now, as the President hasn’t backed up his anger with any action.
“Now is the time for action. We need sanctions to the max, we need to arm Ukraine to the teeth - yet Trump has frankly done nothing,” Polymeropoulos says.
He adds that Trump “admires an autocratic leader” and it’s a style of government he “wishes he could replicate in the US,” which might explain why Trump has been hesitant to act against Putin.
“It is extremely depressing to a lot of us who worked in national security and it remains to be seen once again in Ukraine if Trump is going to change course and actually confront Putin.”
What about Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sanctions package?
Senator Lindsey Graham has put together a bill that he says would enact a “bone-crushing” new sanctions package on Russia, also putting high tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil and gas, with the hope that it will get Putin to the negotiating table.
Polymeropoulos says Graham is an important voice; “a Trump confidant but also a big hawk when it comes to supporting Ukrainians.”
The bill reportedly has support from 72 colleagues cross-party, leading Polymeropoulos to call it “veto-proof” in the US Senate - meaning that even if Trump vetoed the bill, if it had enough support it would have to become law.
“Will the Republicans go for it without the ok from the White House? That's the big question in Washington,” Polymeropoulos explains.
He adds that he is not convinced that a sanctions package, even if it did go ahead, would be enough to stop Putin’s attacks and bring him to the negotiating table.
“I remember when the invasion happened and everyone was touting that this was the biggest sanctions package ever, that this is going to really hurt him.
“The Russian economy has been able to weather what already were crippling sanctions” Polymeropoulos says.
He says that under the Trump administration the “bar is so low” in terms of help for Ukraine, that it “pains” him to promote sanctions whilst knowing that alone, it’s not enough.
He says for “real change” to happen, the US needs to send weapons to Ukraine, as the Biden administration did, or allow European allies to transfer US kits to the Ukranians.
“The one thing that I believe - and i'll be very just frank on this now - that would change Vladimir Putin's behaviour is sending more Russian troops home in body bags.”