Fox News host Brian Kilmeade tore into President Donald Trump’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine conflict during a live Fox & Friends broadcast on Friday. Kilmeade argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin is humiliating Trump on the world stage, as peace talks with Ukraine remain stalled.
Trump had promised to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine “within 24 hours” if he were elected, a bold claim that now feels like a distant fantasy. Later, his administration hinted at a goal of ending the conflict by the 100-day mark of his second term. Yet, with peace talks still frozen and Russia’s attacks intensifying, Trump’s bold promises have crumbled. This week, Russia launched its deadliest missile strike on Kyiv, killing innocent people and further escalating the conflict. In response, Trump posted a message on Truth Social pleading with Putin: “Vladimir, STOP!”
Kilmeade didn’t hold back in his criticism. While he slammed Putin, he also pointed out that Trump’s position is looking weak and ineffective.
“Vladimir Putin, I think to a degree, is embarrassing President Trump,” Kilmeade said, referring to Russia’s brutal missile attack on Kyiv. “It’s going to get worse.”
Kilmeade went on to explain how Putin has been able to ignore Trump’s pressure, which is “humiliating” for the U.S. president. “Russia is one of our fiercest rivals, I would say adversary,” Kilmeade said, acknowledging that Ukraine’s fierce resistance, backed by U.S. weapons and intelligence, has diminished Russia’s power. But despite this, Russia continues to act with little regard for Trump’s words, and even resorts to desperate measures, like bringing in North Korean fighters to bolster their ranks.
“It’s a stalemate for Russia,” Kilmeade continued. “They’re forced to look for soldiers wherever they can find them.”
Kilmeade also pointed out how Trump’s attempts to pressure Putin through sanctions and public statements aren’t having any noticeable impact. “It doesn’t improve the situation if I tell you what’s going to happen to Russia, but if they continue to undermine peace, there are sanctions queued up,” Trump said, but Kilmeade questioned whether any of this is actually changing Putin’s behavior.
Watch Kilmeade’s sharp commentary in the video below via Fox News.
