Senior aides to Russian President Vladimir Putin have mocked President Donald Trump over his approach to the war in Ukraine. This revelation comes from intercepted communications and intelligence shared among Western allies.
British intelligence agencies provided U.S. officials with calls and messages where Kremlin officials reportedly laughed at Trump’s tendency to take Russian statements at face value. They think he can be easily manipulated, according to a report from The Spectator.
“We have continually shown them intelligence that proves the Russians are lying,” a senior UK security official told The Spectator. “The Russians are privately mocking Trump for his naivety about Putin’s intentions. Putin doesn’t want to end the war.”
Based on the intercepted communications, aides close to Putin see Trump as someone who can be easily played. They often joke that Moscow has the advantage in shaping U.S. views of the conflict in Ukraine.
This mockery comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which started in February 2022. Moscow’s military efforts have continued despite multiple rounds of sanctions from the United States and its allies. Diplomatic negotiations have consistently stalled or produced limited results.
The report shows examples where Kremlin officials allegedly found Trump’s statements and actions amusing. This includes moments when he publicly supported Russian claims about ceasefires or peace initiatives that were contradicted by events on the battlefield. For instance, Russian forces reportedly struck Ukrainian territory on the same day Trump claimed Putin had agreed to peace terms.
Trump, who has expressed admiration for Putin over the years, described their early interactions in his second term as productive. In February 2025, shortly after taking office again, Trump stated that both sides in the conflict “want peace.” Meanwhile, Russia continued its military campaign without making significant concessions.
In August 2025, Trump hosted Putin at a summit in Alaska. The event included a red carpet welcome and a military flyover, but did not lead to major progress in ending the conflict, according to officials familiar with the discussions. During that summit, Russian delegates reportedly laughed at Trump’s optimistic public remarks.
A U.S. government official, who requested anonymity while discussing sensitive intelligence sharing, said the interceptions were part of routine monitoring of Russian communications. The official did not dispute the reports of mockery but chose not to provide details on specific messages.
Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine has drawn heavy condemnation from Western countries. Ukrainian officials and NATO leaders have repeatedly called for stronger sanctions and increased military support for Kyiv. They argue that concessions to Moscow would encourage further aggression.
Putin and his inner circle believe the conflict is necessary for defending Russian security interests, while rejecting Western claims of territorial ambition. Senior Russian officials also frame the war as part of a larger struggle against a hostile West.
Trump claimed he would end the war on his first day in office, but has since conceded that Putin is not so easy to deal with as the war rages on. There have been numerous reports about Russia’s economic situation and its ability to continue the conflict.
