Is Europe Putin's next invasion target? Trump says it's ‘possible' the Russian President may target more countries
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US President Donald Trump has said it is 'possible' that Russian President Vladimir Putin could pursue military ambitions beyond Ukraine. His comments came at a press conference following the NATO summit in The Hague.When asked by Gray TV correspondent Jon Decker whether he believed Putin had territorial ambitions outside Ukraine, Trump said, 'It's possible. I mean, it's possible,' as quoted by the New York Post.He added, 'I consider him a person who I think is misguided.'Trump acknowledged the complexity of ending the Russia-Ukraine war, a conflict he once said he could resolve in a single day. Now, he admits it's not so simple.'Vladimir Putin has been more difficult. Frankly, I've had some problems with Zelensky,' Trump said, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 'It's been more difficult than other wars.''I know one thing: He'd like to settle, he'd like to get out of this thing. It's a mess for him,' Trump told reporters in The Hague, reflecting on his ongoing attempts to mediate.During his campaign, Trump had pledged to end the war in 24 hours. But at the summit, he clarified that the claim was not meant to be taken literally.He described the reality as 'more difficult than anyone had thought', adding that 'Putin is more difficult.' The remarks signalled a shift from his earlier confidence to a more cautious tone about future negotiations.In a revealing detail, Trump shared that Putin had recently reached out to him directly with an unexpected offer.'He called the other day (and) said: 'Can I help you with Iran?' I said no, you can help me with Russia,' Trump said.According to Trump, the Russian president wanted to act as a go-between in the Middle East conflict involving Israel and Iran. But Trump redirected the offer, insisting that Putin focus on his own backyard instead.Trump also confirmed that he held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the summit. He described the interaction as 'good' but shared few details about what was discussed.On whether the US would supply Kyiv with more Patriot air defence systems, Trump remained cautious. 'We're going to see if we can make some available,' he said, without making any commitments.The two-day summit in The Hague concluded with a major announcement. All 32 NATO allies agreed to boost their defence budgets to 5% of GDP by 2035.Trump welcomed the decision and called it a 'big win' for the United States and the broader Western alliance.The increase marks a significant shift in NATO's military posture amid growing concerns about long-term security in Europe.Trump's comments, though brief, raised pressing questions about the next phase of the Ukraine conflict — and whether Putin has his eyes set elsewhere. By framing Putin as a leader caught in a 'mess', but still 'misguided', Trump signalled both critique and caution.The NATO summit reinforced allied unity, but as Trump made clear, diplomacy with Russia remains uncertain. With vague timelines and no solid commitments, the road to peace in Ukraine — and beyond — remains wide open.
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