Michael Barbaro

As the weeks go by, he's bombing and striking Ukrainian cities, hitting civilian targets with drones and missiles. And, you know, there's worldwide outrage that finally even includes President Trump, who on April 24th posts on his Truth Social account, Vladimir, stop. Not necessary and very bad timing in response to a major Russian attack on Kyiv.

He says, let's get the peace deal done in all capital letters. So, you know, this is really a kind of a creed of core from Trump. You can really sense his frustration. You know, you're screwing up my deal here, Vladimir. What's going on? I thought we were friends.

He says, let's get the peace deal done in all capital letters. So, you know, this is really a kind of a creed of core from Trump. You can really sense his frustration. You know, you're screwing up my deal here, Vladimir. What's going on? I thought we were friends.

You are. You are. And not only is it the strongest language, but it's such a departure from the way he has always talked about Putin, which is to make excuses for him or... You know, when he's asked about Putin assassinating political opponents, he says, well, lots of people do that.

You are. You are. And not only is it the strongest language, but it's such a departure from the way he has always talked about Putin, which is to make excuses for him or... You know, when he's asked about Putin assassinating political opponents, he says, well, lots of people do that.

So it's not only that he hasn't directly criticized Putin in this way before, it's that he's contorted himself to find ways to defend and excuse Putin. But what happens next in some ways is even more surprising. On April 26th, at the funeral for Pope Francis at the Vatican, Trump has his first meeting with Zelensky since the debacle in the Oval Office. And this is sort of an impromptu pull aside.

So it's not only that he hasn't directly criticized Putin in this way before, it's that he's contorted himself to find ways to defend and excuse Putin. But what happens next in some ways is even more surprising. On April 26th, at the funeral for Pope Francis at the Vatican, Trump has his first meeting with Zelensky since the debacle in the Oval Office. And this is sort of an impromptu pull aside.

We don't know that much about it, but all the vibes, you might say, were very positive. And, you know, the kind of defining aspect of what we know about it is a photograph that was published showing just Trump and Zelensky one-on-one in some large marble hall somewhere in the Vatican building.

We don't know that much about it, but all the vibes, you might say, were very positive. And, you know, the kind of defining aspect of what we know about it is a photograph that was published showing just Trump and Zelensky one-on-one in some large marble hall somewhere in the Vatican building.

sitting in two chairs facing each other, almost with their knees touching, locked in a very intense conversation.

sitting in two chairs facing each other, almost with their knees touching, locked in a very intense conversation.

It was theatrical. And, you know, You don't want to read too much into one photograph, but this picture of the two of them said so much. There was no retinue of staffers around them. There was no media. And you could tell that they were having a serious conversation, and it was not angry. It looked intense, but not angry.

It was theatrical. And, you know, You don't want to read too much into one photograph, but this picture of the two of them said so much. There was no retinue of staffers around them. There was no media. And you could tell that they were having a serious conversation, and it was not angry. It looked intense, but not angry.

And so, you know, here Trump is willing to sit down with Zelensky one-on-one, grant him that legitimacy, and... You know, this is seen as a very encouraging sign for Ukraine supporters. But even more encouraging is the fact that just a few days later, on April 30th, the Trump administration inks a deal with Ukraine that gives America access to Ukraine's critical minerals.

And so, you know, here Trump is willing to sit down with Zelensky one-on-one, grant him that legitimacy, and... You know, this is seen as a very encouraging sign for Ukraine supporters. But even more encouraging is the fact that just a few days later, on April 30th, the Trump administration inks a deal with Ukraine that gives America access to Ukraine's critical minerals.

And although some people worry that this is some effort by Trump to rip Ukraine off, the Ukrainians are actually supportive of this because they feel that this gives Trump an investment in the future of their country that he did not have before. So suddenly, Trump is doing deals with the Ukrainians, and where is Vladimir Putin?

And although some people worry that this is some effort by Trump to rip Ukraine off, the Ukrainians are actually supportive of this because they feel that this gives Trump an investment in the future of their country that he did not have before. So suddenly, Trump is doing deals with the Ukrainians, and where is Vladimir Putin?

He is still holding out, not making concessions, not doing significant deals, and Trump is losing more and more patience.

He is still holding out, not making concessions, not doing significant deals, and Trump is losing more and more patience.

And something that's ominous for Vladimir Putin is on the same day he sees Zelensky at the Vatican, he again complains about Russian missile strikes into civilian areas of Ukraine and says that these attacks make him wonder whether Putin actually doesn't want to stop the war and that he's just, as Trump says it in kind of an odd terminology, just tapping me along.