Ex-MI6 chief says Putin has played Donald Trump 'like a violin' but says the tyrant has now 'overplayed' his hand
Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin has played Donald Trump 'like a violin' about his plans for Ukraine but has now 'overplayed' his hand, the ex-head of MI6 has said.Sir Alex Younger, who led the UK's Secret Intelligence Service from 2014 to 2020, said Putin's attempts to dupe the US President into thinking they were 'mates' had spectacularly backfired. Speaking out last night, the retired British spymaster said Trump - who has previously appeared sympathetic towards Russia's invasion of its eastern bloc neighbour - was now being made a 'muppet' of by Putin.Sir Alex said Putin's action, which have seen him stepping up his ruthless bombing campaign against Kyiv despite efforts to bring a ceasefire about, were threatening to destroy any relationship between the American and Russian leaders. Speaking on BBC Newsnight, the former spy chief said he was 'mystified' at how the Russian tyrant - a former KGB intelligence officer - had 'overplayed' his hand so poorly. 'He's played Trump like a violin so far,' added Sir Alex. 'He's created this idea that they're mates and that they are equivalent and they can solve all the world's problems together. 'But it's becoming very clear to Donald Trump that Putin has no other plan other than to subjugate Ukraine and he's going to make Trump look like a muppet if he continues and that's not acceptable.'He continued: 'He is overplaying his hand... And he doesn't have a military solution. Vladimir Putin (pictured) has 'played' Donald Trump 'like a violin', a former MI6 chief warned Sir Alex Younger, who led the UK's Secret Intelligence Service from 2014 to 2020, said Putin's attempts to dupe the US President into thinking they were 'mates' had spectacularly backfired Sir Alex gave his verdict during a wide-ranging discussion on BBC Newsnight on Thursday 'With three years in, he's lost a million men, and he's got less territory than he did in 22, OK? So Trump is his only answer.'He's playing it very dangerous here.'Trump's position appears to have shifted radically in the past few months, which has seen the US leader swaying further away from Russia's false narrative blaming Ukraine for starting the war to Moscow now needlessly prolonging it. In a furious display of how soured relations have now become, Trump lambasted Putin's for his 'bulls***' over Ukraine, as the 79-year-old US leader appeared to become increasingly more irritated by the Russian. Speaking at a televised meeting of top officials this week, President Trump said: 'We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.'Pressed on if he wanted to see further sanctions against Russia, Trump replied: 'I’m looking at it.' He refused to give further details but warned any action would come as 'a little surprise'.Earlier this week, it was revealed Trump had told a private meeting of donors that he once warned Putin he would 'bomb the s*** out of Moscow' if he attacked Ukraine.A recording of a gathering during a 2024 fundraiser seemingly shows the now-President stating Russia would have never invaded Ukraine in 2022 had he been in office.Apparently in reference to his first term, Trump said: 'With Putin I said, "If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the s*** out of Moscow. I'm telling you I have no choice".' Donald Trump ripped into Putin, accusing him of throwing 'bull****' at the US in negotiations to end war with Ukraine A record number of rockets and drones launched at Ukraine by Moscow last week. Pictured: Aftermath of a Russian attack in Odesa Trump reportedly told a private meeting of donors that he once warned Vladimir Putin that he would 'bomb the **** out of Moscow Read More Trump 'told Putin he'd bomb the **** out of Moscow if he attacked Ukraine' He then claimed Putin responded: '"I don't believe you, no way"... and I said "way".'Later in the conversation, Trump can also be heard claiming that he issued a similar threat to China's President Xi Jinping if he chose to invade Taiwan.'I said the same thing to them, I said "if you go into Taiwan I'm going to bomb the **** out of Beijing".'He thought I was crazy. He said "Beijing! You can't even bomb [inaudible]." I said, I have no choice. He believed me 10 per cent... and we never had a problem.'The remarks were uncovered in a series of audio tapes made while Trump was on the campaign trail at fundraisers in New York and Florida.Trump's administration had previously held off on additional military aid for Ukraine amid hopes a ceasefire could be brokered. However, on Thursday, the president appeared to U-turn - at least in part - on that position as he announced a new string of support for the besieged nation. Putin's relationship with Mr Trump appears to have soured in recent months (file image)Read More Putin's cruellest attack: Terminally ill orphans evacuated to bomb shelter as drones target Ukraine The president told NBC News he had secured a deal through Nato to send new Patriot anti-missile missiles to Kyiv to help it repel Russian attacks on civilian targets.'We’re sending weapons to Nato, and Nato is paying for those weapons, a hundred percent,' Mr Trump said. 'We’re going to be sending Patriots to Nato and then Nato will distribute that,' he added. It's not clear what the exact parameters of the deal between the US and the alliance is - or when it will take place. News of the weapons deal comes as Ukraine continues to be pounded by missile and drone attacks from Moscow. Heartbreaking new footage revealed this morning, showed the moment terminally ill orphans in Ukraine were evacuated to a bomb shelter during one of the latest drone strikes.Nurses could be seen carrying the distressed children in their arms after they were forced to flee a hospice due to Vladimir Putin's relentless strikes targeting civilians.The harrowing clip was filmed on the night of July 9 or in the early hours of July 10. Heartbreaking scenes show the forced evacuation from a hospice for seriously ill orphans - due to Vladimir Putin 's relentless drone strikes targeting civilians The terminally ill children had to be rushed by medics and nurses to a bomb shelter because of the Russian attacks The children were seen on mats on the floor after being removed from their beds due to Putin bombing'This is how the children were evacuated to a shelter in the Butterfly House in Chernivtsi,' said the caption.'In the centre, there is the largest children's palliative ward in Ukraine,' said a report.'Each such descent into the bomb shelter for seriously ill children is a threat to life.'The orphans could be seen lying on mats on the floor after being removed from their beds.Some of the bewildered children cried as they were carried out of the hospital, with nurses trying to comfort them through reassuring smiles.At least ten of the seriously ill orphans are from Kryvyi Rih - the birthplace of Volodymyr Zelensky.
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