Ex-MI6 boss issues brutal Trump v Putin verdict - 'played him like a violin'

Vladimir Putin has "played Donald Trump like a violin" - but may have now pushed things too far, the former head of MI6 has warned.

Sir Alex Younger, who led the UK's Secret Intelligence Service from 2014 to 2020, said the Russian president had attempted to manipulate Mr Trump by presenting a false sense of camaraderie - only for the plan to backfire eventually as the US leader toughens his stance over Ukraine.

He said: "He's played Trump like a violin so far. 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." Sir Alex made the comments during an in-depth interview on BBC Newsnight on Thursday, during which he said Mr Putin appeared to be misjudging both the political and military reality.

He said: "He is overplaying his hand. And he doesn't have a military solution."

"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."

Relations between Mr Trump and Mr Putin appear to have soured in recent months, with the US president abandoning the notion that Moscow's invasion was somehow provoked by Kyiv and instead blaming the Kremlin for dragging out a brutal war.

He 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."

He also reportedly told a private gathering of donors that he once warned Mr Putin he would "bomb the s*** out of Moscow" if Russia invaded Ukraine.

He 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.'"

He added: "I said the same thing to them [China]. I said, 'If you go into Taiwan, I'm going to bomb the s*** out of Beijing.'"

Despite previously stalling military aid to Ukraine, Mr Trump has now confirmed a fresh round of weapons shipments - including Patriot air defence systems - will be sent via NATO.

He said: "We're going to be sending Patriots to NATO, and then NATO will distribute that. NATO is going to reimburse the full cost."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a "positive dialogue" with Mr Trump on the issue and confirmed he had asked for 10 Patriot systems to help defend against a surge in Russian airstrikes.

He said: "Germany is ready to pay for two Patriots, Norway for one, and other European partners are prepared to help."

Mr Trump has said he will make a "major statement" on Russia on Monday, though did not clarify the topic.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington had asked Germany and Spain to hand over existing Patriot batteries to speed up deliveries to Ukraine.

He said: "We have continued to encourage our Nato allies to provide those weapons... since they have them in their stocks."

He added: "Then we can enter into financial agreements... where they can purchase the replacements."

His comments came as Ukrainian cities were pounded by a record 728 drones in a single night. Mr Zelensky warned Russia could soon push that number to 1,000.

He said: "The Patriots are real protectors of life."

According to the UN, June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in Ukraine since the war began, with 232 people killed and more than 1,300 injured.

Patriot systems - worth up to $1bn each - are considered essential to Ukraine's layered air defence network, which also includes older Soviet-era S-300s and NASAMS. They're used to defend critical infrastructure, including power stations and military bases.

Sir Alex warned that despite Mr Putin's efforts to manipulate Western leaders, the shifting tone from Mr Trump showed the Russian leader may have misjudged his moment.

He said: "He thought he had an open goal. But now he's facing a United States that might be about to get serious again."