The White House has said president Donald Trump “believes” Vladimir Putin is winning the war with Ukraine. The statement follows a Wall Street Journal that Mr Trump told European leaders after a Mr Putin that the Russian president is not ready to end the war.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly told European leaders that Vladimir Putin has no intention of ending the war in Ukraine—because he’s currently winning. This shocking claim, reported by the Wall Street Journal,

Following a recent phone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, some analysts have argued that U.S. President Donald Trump is letting the Russian leader “off the hook,” arguing that his decision to omit the topic of sanctions and military aid to Ukraine constituted a significant diplomatic concession that weakens Western leverage.