German Defense Minister Criticizes Trump's Approach to Putin and Ukraine War

Pistorius Condemns Trump's Stance on Russia

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has voiced strong criticism of former US President Donald Trump's past approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking on Deutschlandfunk radio on February 24, 2026, marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Pistorius stated that Trump's actions sent 'wrong signals' to Moscow and negatively impacted efforts to end the fighting.

Pistorius specifically referenced a meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska in August 2025. He asserted that Trump 'rolled out the red carpet' for Putin and greeted him 'like a friend' while simultaneously withdrawing military support for Ukraine. According to Pistorius, this conduct influenced the course of the war and bolstered Putin's confidence.

Tactical Errors in Peace Negotiations

The German Defense Minister also highlighted what he termed a 'tactical mistake' made by Trump during peace negotiations concerning Ukraine. Pistorius criticized Trump for prematurely ruling out the possibility of Ukraine's membership in NATO. He argued that this could have served as a valuable bargaining chip in broader discussions.

Trump's past interactions with Putin have drawn scrutiny, including his apparent embrace of Putin's denials regarding interference in the 2016 US election during a 2018 Helsinki summit. Additionally, Trump's comments in 2022, days before Russia's invasion, where he called Putin's decision to declare breakaway regions of Ukraine independent 'genius,' have been noted.

Unified European Support for Ukraine Remains Steadfast

In contrast to his criticism of Trump's past actions, Pistorius reaffirmed Germany's unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine. He pledged that Germany would continue its military and financial assistance to Kyiv. Pistorius described Russia's ongoing attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine as a 'war of terror' and emphasized the importance of not easing support for Ukraine, especially given the current state of Russia's economy.

The European Union as a whole has demonstrated extensive and unified support for Ukraine since the February 2022 invasion. This includes:

• Political, financial, military, and humanitarian aid.
• The adoption of restrictive measures against Russia.
• The establishment of a dedicated Ukraine Facility, providing up to €50 billion in financial support for 2024 to 2027.
• Opening accession negotiations with Ukraine.

European leaders continue to stress the importance of maintaining this support, with many citizens across the continent also backing these measures.