During a recent event at the White House about the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, Donald Trump was in the Oval Office grinning like a man who had just found treasure, holding up a picture he said came from Vladimir Putin, showing the two of them standing together in Alaska only a week ago.
“I was just sent a picture from somebody that wants to be there very badly,” Trump said. “He’s been very respectful of me and of our country, but not so respectful of others.” He continued, “That’s a man named Vladimir Putin,” and even promised to sign the picture for the Russian leader, as if autographs were now part of diplomacy.
On his head was a bright red hat screaming TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING! He smiled while showing off the image. “I thought it was a nice picture of him. Okay of me, but nice of him.”
The whole scene felt out of touch. Russia had just launched fresh missile strikes in Ukraine, including one that hit an American electronics factory. Putin’s foreign minister also dismissed Trump’s announcement of an upcoming Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, saying there was no such plan.
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Meanwhile, the reality outside that room looked far more serious. Only days earlier, Trump had hosted Putin in Anchorage and then welcomed Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington. He said he was arranging a direct meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents.
His press secretary Karoline Leavitt even told reporters it would happen soon. But on Friday, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov told NBC News there was no summit planned. He also called NATO talks “futile.”
That left Trump in an awkward spot. The peace deal he promised looked further away than ever.
When asked about the Russian strike on Ukraine, Trump said, “I told that I’m not happy about it, and I’m not happy about anything having to do with that war.” He added, “No, I’m not happy about anything about that war. Nothing. Not happy at all. We’ll see what happens. I say, over the next two weeks, we’re going to find out which way it’s going to go. And, I better be very happy.”
Trump also said, “It’s gonna be a very important decision. And that’s whether or not it’s massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both, or do we do nothing and say, ‘It’s your fight.’”
The “two weeks” promise has become one of Trump’s favorite lines. He keeps saying something big is coming soon. But for people watching the war, his words do not sound like a plan.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
