The once-curious camaraderie between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin appears to be unraveling fast — and tensions are mounting as their respective agendas over the war in Ukraine now stand at odds.

In a dramatic metaphor, Russia’s Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper compared the situation to two runaway trains:

“The Trump locomotive and the Putin locomotive are speeding towards each other — and neither is slowing down.”

On one track, Putin charges ahead with his so-called “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine, showing no indication of stepping back. On the other, Trump is turning up the pressure, issuing deadlines, threatening new sanctions, and even repositioning U.S. nuclear submarines closer to Russia — a stark signal that diplomacy may be reaching its limits.

From Cooperation to Confrontation

Just months ago, the second Trump presidency began with surprisingly warm signals between Washington and Moscow. Trump’s administration even opposed a European resolution at the United Nations condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine — a move that delighted the Kremlin and left Western allies stunned.

During that honeymoon phase, both leaders exchanged phone calls discussing potential visits, and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff made four separate trips to Moscow in two months, holding extensive talks with Putin.

The Russian president even gifted Witkoff a portrait of Trump — a gesture that reportedly moved the U.S. president personally.

But goodwill quickly gave way to growing frustration.

Trump’s Patience Wears Thin

Trump had hoped to broker a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine. But with Russia’s military momentum holding strong and Putin’s refusal to compromise on key demands, Washington’s tone has shifted.

In recent weeks, Trump has publicly condemned Russia’s escalating strikes on Ukrainian cities as “disgusting” and “disgraceful,” and called Putin’s statements on Ukraine “a lot of bullshit.”

What began as a soft diplomatic push has turned into hardline threats. Trump gave the Kremlin a 50-day ultimatum to end the war — later slashed to just 10 days. That deadline now looms with no sign of Russian concessions.

Yet some analysts remain skeptical about how seriously Putin takes Trump’s ultimatums.

“Trump changes deadlines, contradicts himself… Putin likely doesn’t take him seriously,” said Nina Khrushcheva, professor of international affairs at The New School. “Putin believes he’s fulfilling Russia’s historic destiny and won’t be pressured easily.”

Signs of a Possible Deal?

Despite the escalating rhetoric, the door to diplomacy hasn’t completely shut.

Trump still sees himself as a master negotiator — and envoy Steve Witkoff is due back in Moscow this week. Some Moscow analysts suggest Witkoff may bring new incentives, not just threats. In fact, Trump recently downplayed Russia’s vulnerability to sanctions, saying they seem “pretty good at avoiding them.”

This has fueled speculation that the U.S. may present Moscow with economic or strategic “carrots” in exchange for a ceasefire agreement.

Ivan Loshkarev, a political analyst at MGIMO University in Moscow, told Izvestia that Witkoff may propose “mutually beneficial cooperation” to follow any settlement.

The Roadblocks Ahead

Still, Putin hasn’t budged. His core demands — recognition of Russian-claimed territories, Ukrainian neutrality, and strict limits on Ukraine’s future military — remain unchanged after more than three years of conflict.

Trump wants a deal. Putin wants total victory.

For now, the two powers are headed toward a potential diplomatic standoff — or worse.

Whether the Trump and Putin “locomotives” can switch tracks in time remains to be seen. The world watches anxiously.