Unbelievable: Putin is trying to manipulate Trump… he wants Don to think he’s his friend, ex-aide John Bolton warns…. Continue Reading

Bolton told The Sun how Putin used a phone call years ago to sway Trump’s view on Zelensky

VLADIMIR Putin is trying to manipulate Donald Trump to get what he wants, his former White House adviser has warned.

John Bolton, who worked with Trump during his first term, believes Vlad is trying to get his malicious hooks into the US President.

Fresh into his second term, Trump has started to thaw three years of isolation by the West by picking up the phone to Putin last month.

What followed was a 90-minute conversation, breaking the thick ice between Moscow and Washington for the first time since Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine three years prior.

Described by the American side as “lengthy and productive”, Trump announced immediate negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

But while Trump reopened relations with Russia – he also launched a blistering attack on Zelensky and paused US military aid to Ukraine after a fiery bust-up with the wartime leader.

Don was accused by some of appeasing Russia – but has since taken a tougher line, threatening a new wave of sanctions and tariffs on Vlad unless he stops “pounding” Ukraine.

Trump did however say he finds Russia easier to deal with than Ukraine – saying he thinks they are doing “very well” in talks with the Kremlin.

Bolton, 76, who served as Trump’s National Security Advisor from 2018 to 2019 before a very public falling out, warned ex-KGB agent Putin will be trying to manipulate Donald as they get to the table.

He said sinister Putin will be using his sly tactics to try and “get what he wants” from the US president.

He told The Sun: “Trump thinks he and Putin are friends. That’s not what Putin thinks.”

Bolton – who worked at the very heart of Trump’s White House – has since been derided by Trump as him a “very dumb person” and a “warmonger”.

Trump has previously said he knows Putin “very well” and said they “get along great”.

But he has also repeatedly threatened Russia with tougher sanctions over the conflict – and said he is doing Putin a “very big favor” by trying to end the “ridculous war”.

Our interview with Bolton came as today Putin appeared to ignore Trump’s threat – and once again struck Ukraine, killing at least 14 people.

Bolton said he believes Trump admires figures like Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un for their strength and “rule without contradiction”.

He told The Sun: “They’re kind of big guys – and Trump would like to be a big guy too.”

Trump vowed to end the war in 100 days – and has set about attempting to finally freeze the three-year conflict that has turned the fields on Ukraine into a blood-soaked meat grinder.

Trump’s team are currently working to get Ukraine to sign a deal that would give them a stake in the country’s minerals – and open the door for further talks with Russia.

Ukraine however are calling for more security gurantees – with Europe offering to step up and help backstop them against Russia.

US and Ukrainian officials will meet this week in Saudi Arabia to continue discussions after the fierce meeting with Zelensky in the White House and talks in Kyiv, which featured the Ukrainian leader reportedly screaming at one of Trump’s envoys.

Bolton told The Sun “you don’t call your friends dictators” – noting Trump’s jibe at Zelensky.

He previously told The Sun how Putin has long been pouring poison in Trump’s ear – and used a phone call years ago to sway his view on Zelensky.

The former White House chief listened in to a bombshell call between them after Zelensky took office in 2019.

And he believes Putin’s twisted words may have sown the seeds for Trump’s blistering attack last week – in which he derided Ukraine’s hero leader as a “dictator” and a “modestly successful comedian”.