FT: Putin Frustrated as Trump Warms to Ukraine After Drone Successes

Russian President Vladimir Putin is growing increasingly frustrated with Donald Trump as Washington shows signs of greater support for Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. 

According to the FT, senior Ukrainian officials believe Trump has begun warming to stronger backing for Kyiv after being impressed by Ukraine’s recent military successes, particularly its long-range drone strikes on targets deep inside Russia.

The shift appears to have unsettled Moscow, where officials had expected Trump to pressure Ukraine into a rapid peace deal more favorable to the Kremlin. Instead, Russia now sees the US moving closer to Kyiv on key defense issues, including air defense, long-range capabilities and possible technology licensing.

The FT reported that Trump was “hugely impressed” by Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian military and industrial targets far from the front line. Those attacks have increasingly exposed Russia’s vulnerability at home and challenged the Kremlin’s claim that time is on Moscow’s side.

The reported shift comes after the G7 summit in France, where leaders agreed to increase support for Ukraine’s air defense, long-range capabilities and domestic weapons production. The summit also produced renewed discussion of tougher sanctions on Russia’s energy sector.

Moscow has responded angrily. Russian officials have accused Washington of abandoning its role as a neutral mediator and moving toward a more openly pro-Ukrainian position. The FT said the Kremlin is increasingly disappointed that Trump has not delivered the quick diplomatic breakthrough Russia had hoped for.

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The frustration reflects a broader problem for Putin. Ukraine’s drone campaign has brought the war deeper into Russian territory, striking oil facilities, logistics routes and military-related infrastructure. Those attacks have not only caused physical damage but also weakened the Kremlin’s narrative that Russian territory is secure from the consequences of the war.

For months, Moscow has tried to portray Ukraine as exhausted and dependent on foreign aid. But Kyiv’s growing domestic drone production and ability to hit strategic targets inside Russia have complicated that message.