VLADIMIR Putin has made his biggest mistake of the war so far after “patronising” Donald Trump over the phone, say US political experts.
Trump slapped punishing sanctions on Russia on Wednesday after a turbulent week saw the Kremlin all but ostracised by Washington for their refusal to accept a peace deal in Ukraine.
Russia’s two main oil companies are now facing a rough future after Trump’s decision to punish Moscow over the failed ceasefire talks.
When announcing the sanctions, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent blamed them on “Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war”.
Oil is one of Russia’s largest economical pillars with Bessent even saying the companies are responsible for “funding the Kremlin’s war machine”.
Russia‘s ability to sell off the crucial oil is now in serious jeopardy after similar sanctions were made across Europe.
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This leaves Putin scrambling to make enough cash to reinvest into his military in order to continue to pursue Ukrainian land.
Trump says he hopes the sanctions will be a wake-up call for Putin to become more “reasonable” over what it will take for a deal to be made so his cash pipeline can be turned back on.
But Moscow has now warned that “peacemaker” Trump is on a “warpath against Russia”, according to Putin’s lackey Dmitry Medvedev.
After the major sanctions’ announcement was made, many were left wondering what prompted such a clear response on Moscow.
Former US assistant secretary of state for Europe, Daniel Fried, told the Atlantic Council he believes it has all started to unravel since Putin spoke to Trump over the phone.
Fried explained: “This is the first time the Trump administration has imposed any new financial restrictions on Russia.
“And it came after Putin stonewalled on a cease-fire and patronized Trump.
“Today’s move is a welcome warning shot to Putin to knock off the games and maximalism and get serious about ending the war.”
The pair spoke on October 16 with both sides agreeing the chat had been “very productive” when it finished.
They even agreed to meet in Hungary to discuss the next steps towards peace.
But Putin’s pleasantries during the talks, as he assured Trump he wanted to end the war, were short lived.
Several top officials within the Kremlin were quick to pour cold water on any idea that Russia would accept peace terms which didn’t favour them.
Trump and Ukraine said a complete freeze of the frontlines could work as long as Russia stop their invasion.
But the sly Russians laughed at the idea.
Then in a turbulent 24 hours, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone call of their own.
They were set to speak some more about the peace deal and help to organise a meeting between each other in person.
But hours after Rubio put the phone down, any meeting was suddenly axed.
One source familiar with the matter believes Rubio and Lavrov had widely differing expectations about how to end Russia’s invasion during their call.
This prompted Rubio to speak to US officials about his concerns and it was later announced that Trump would also refuse to meet with Putin.
EXPERT ANALYSIS: How can Trump force Putin into a peace deal
ON the latest edition of Harry Cole Saves The West, Harry was joined by Former Special Advisor to Ukraine General Zaluzhnyi Dan Rice to discuss Trump’s latest sanctions on Russia.
Rice believes that Trump may use the Middle East to help “fund victory” in Ukraine.
He may plan on getting the Saudis for example to pay Ukraine so they can buy long-range weapons for themselves rather than going to the US.
Trump will also be aware that Russia are running low on oil – whereas the Gulf States are certainly not.
Rice says there is a chance that the US is thinking about draining Vlad to a point where his oil supplies run out and he has to end the war in order to keep Russia’s economy alive.
Rice told Harry: “I think everybody realises that Putin does not want peace and I think President Trump has given every effort to secure peace without increasing and escalating the war.
“Now the goal is to fire enough long range weapons into Russia, destroy their economy, destroy their GDP and that will hurt Putin.
“He he will be forced between a poor and a difficult decision.”
Watch the latest episode of Harry Cole Saves The West now
Trump addressed the cancellation of the meeting as he spoke alongside Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
He said: “Every time I speak to Vladimir, I have good conversations and then they don’t go anywhere. They just don’t go anywhere.”
Ukrainian wartime leader Volodymyr Zelensky believes the sanctions will be the biggest marker on how serious Putin is about ending the war.
He said on X: “The new US sanctions against Russia’s oil giants are a clear signal that prolonging the war and spreading terror come at a cost.
“It is precisely pressure on Russia that will be effective for achieving peace, and sanctions are one of its key components.”
There has been little let up by Russia on the ground out in Ukraine despite diplomatic efforts to stop the bloodshed.
Seven people were injured in a horror barrage of overnight strikes on the capital Kyiv.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 130 missiles and drones.
A number of districts in the capital were hit and set on fire as civilians fled their homes and ran for their lives to underground shelters.
The previous night saw six people, including children, killed in the region.
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Heartbreaking footage from Kharkiv captured the moments dozens of fire officials holding children in their arms ran away from a burning nursery.
Distressed little ones were heard crying and screaming in fear as they were carried away.