Trump is looking for an 'exit ramp' on Ukraine, Ben Wallace tells LBC, as he warns victory is getting further away
Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has told LBC a ceasefire in Ukraine is becoming less likely and slammed Donald Trump for having a “fetish” for Vladimir Putin.
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The former Conservative Minister hit out at the White House for failing to bring peace in Ukraine closer and accused the Trump administration of being “more interested in the fanfare” of a deal than Ukraine's long-term future.
It comes as Donald Trump declared that any party refusing to move forward with Ukraine-Russia peace talks are "fools" and "horrible people".
Speaking on Friday, the US President doubled down on earlier comments made by his Secretary of State, confirming the US would "just take a pass" if negotiations appear to be stalling.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed on Friday that the White House would "walk away" from attempts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, failing any further progress.
Mr Wallace told LBC: "It's really depressing that this administration seems to take the side of Russia.
“Only a few days ago, Russia murdered lots of people in Sumy.
“And the response from Donald Trump was, ‘I understand from the Russians, it's a mistake.’
“It isn't a mistake. They have been daily bombing and killing people. I think that's the most depressing thing for all of us.”
He went on to slam Trump for using “Kremlin talking points” and accused him of having a “fetish” for Putin.
He said: “Trump, the dealmaker, really, really is more interested in the fanfare of the deal, not the outcome of the deal.”
Mr Wallace also called for Sir Keir Starmer to cancel Trump’s upcoming state visit until a trade deal can be agreed, as he branded the US president “tangerine tariff man.”
Speaking on Friday, the US President doubled down on earlier comments made by his Secretary of State, confirming the US would "just take a pass" if negotiations appear to be stalling.
Marco Rubio claimed on Friday that the White House would "walk away" from attempts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine failing any further progress.
Asked whether the claim was accurate, Trump asserted he would abandon attempts "very shortly" if a deal could not be reached.
"How many days is that?" one reporter asked him from the White House.
"No specific number of days. But quickly, we want to get it done," Trump responded.
Asked whether Russia was playing the US, the president added: "Nobody is playing me. I'm trying to help."
He added "we have a really good chance" of getting a deal.
"It's coming to a head right now," he added on Friday.
"Now, if for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say, 'You're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people,' and we're going to just take a pass."
Adding: "But hopefully, we won't have to do that."
Asked if he was prepared to walk away altogether from US efforts to broker a deal, Trump added: "Well, I don't want to say that, but we want to see it end."