Donald Trump's ‘unusually critical stance’ on Vladimir Putin: 'Russia's going to be in big trouble'

US President Donald Trump vowed to end war in Ukraine and made an ‘unusually critical' remark against Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said Putin must make a deal with Ukraine to end the war.

"He should make a deal. I think he's destroying Russia by not making a deal," Trump told reporters on his return to the Oval Office. "I think Russia's going to be in big trouble," he said.

The comments mark an unusually critical stance by Trump on Putin, for whom he has voiced admiration in the past.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Trump and said Monday he was open to dialogue with the new US administration on Ukraine and nuclear arms. He hoped any settlement would ensure "lasting peace".

Trump said on Monday he’ll talk to Vladimir Putin soon. “Most people thought that war would have been over in one week,” Trump said of Russia’s nearly three-year war on Ukraine. He added, “I think he’d be very well off to end that war.”

A summit between the two leaders in Trump's first term gained notoriety after the US president appeared to accept the Russian leader's word over that of US intelligence. "I got along with him great, I would hope he wants to make a deal," Trump said.

"He can't be thrilled he's not doing so well. I mean, he's grinding it out, but most people thought that war would have been over in about one week, and now you're into three years, right?" Trump was quoted by AFP as saying.

Trump also said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had told him that he wanted a peace agreement to end the war, which started when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

"Zelensky wants to make a deal," said Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the Ukrainian leader in the past.

(With inputs from AFP)