US President Donald Trump is discovering the limits of his one-on-one diplomacy as two of the world’s most volatile conflicts, Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza, spiral further beyond his reach.
In remarks this week, Trump expressed deep frustration over recent conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Once confident he could end both wars quickly, Trump now concedes he’s disappointed, even disillusioned, with two leaders he’s long claimed to understand.
“I thought we would be able to negotiate something, and maybe that’ll still happen,” Trump said about Putin. “But it’s very late down the process. So I’m disappointed.”
The feeling is mutual across multiple foreign fronts. In recent weeks, Trump has struggled to translate personal relationships into diplomatic outcomes. His calls with Netanyahu, in particular, have grown increasingly tense amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Israeli leader, once a close Trump ally, has faced pushback from the US President over civilian deaths, bombings of religious and government buildings, and images of starving children beamed into Trump’s Scotland residence just days ago.
“I see it, and you can’t fake it. So we’re going to be even more involved,” Trump said in Scotland on Monday, visibly shaken as he addressed reporters. “I think everybody, unless they’re pretty cold-hearted — or worse than that, nuts — there’s nothing you can say other than it’s terrible when you see the kids.”
On Netanyahu, who said earlier on Monday that there was no starvation in Gaza, Trump replied: “I don’t know. Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry. We’re giving a lot of money and a lot of food and other nations are now stepping up.”
As per a report by CNN, sources inside the White House say Trump had already planned to confront Netanyahu over Israeli military actions before leaving for his golf properties in Scotland. But it was the photos — children emaciated, parents grieving — that prompted him to take more urgent action. Even First Lady Melania Trump was said to be “deeply affected,” helping spur the President’s response.
“He asked us, ‘What can we do to help right now?’” one senior official said, CNN reported. “It had clearly gotten under his skin.”
The cracks in Trump’s foreign ties
While Trump has long prided himself on bypassing traditional diplomatic channels, often handing out his personal number and encouraging world leaders to text, that informality has its limits. Even in North Korea, his relationship has shifted from camaraderie to confrontation as substantive deals remain elusive.
In Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un has gone silent, declining to respond to Trump’s overtures. While Kim’s sister claimed their relationship is “not bad,” she confirmed North Korea would not abandon its nuclear arsenal.
In Europe, Trump’s irritation with Putin is only growing. “Absolutely crazy,” he said of Russia’s ongoing missile and drone strikes in Ukraine. Earlier this year, Trump gave Moscow a 50-day ultimatum to agree to a ceasefire or face new sanctions. Now, he’s shortened that window to just 10 days.
“He was fed up,” one adviser said, CNN quoted. “Putin wasn’t responding, and Trump wanted to send a message.”
Despite years of speculation about their relationship, Trump has insisted he wasn’t “played” by the Russian President. He even shared a private moment with the first lady: “I tell Melania, ‘I spoke to Vladimir today, it was a good call.’ And she says, ‘Oh really? Another city was just hit.’”
Netanyahu, praise to pressure
At the start of July, Netanyahu presented Trump with a letter nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize. Weeks later, their relationship was rocked by Israeli bombings in Gaza and Syria, including an attack on a Catholic church. Trump, caught off guard by the escalation, confronted Netanyahu directly over a phone call, White House officials said.
“Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time,” one White House official told Axios, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.
As per report by CNN, sources say Trump also discussed the situation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who urged Trump to use his influence to pressure Israel to open humanitarian corridors. The Israeli military later announced “humanitarian pauses” and new aid routes but Trump remains skeptical that enough is being done.
The tension is notable for two men whose political fortunes have long been intertwined. Trump has both praised and rebuked Netanyahu over the years, calling him “a great leader” but also blaming him for prematurely congratulating Joe Biden in 2020.
“Bibi and I just went through HELL together,” Trump wrote recently, invoking similar language he has used to describe Putin.
Still, the peace deals Trump once promised — the ones he hoped might lead to a Nobel Prize — remain stubbornly out of reach.
President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive for a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo) 
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