Russia mocks 'loser' Donald Trump as Moscow threatens 'long war with West'

Russian media mocked Donald Trump over his latest outburst against Vladimir Putin, as relations between the two presidents appear to have hit the rocks. The US leader is growing increasingly frustrated with the Kremlin boss over his refusal to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The White House has offered Putin generous terms to bring fighting to end in war-torn Ukraine, but the Kremlin has procrastinated and escalated the fighting. Following a further telephone call with Putin last week, Trump admitted no progress had been made, saying he was "unhappy" with the impasse. He later stepped up his criticism of the Kremlin tyrant on Tuesday during a cabinet meeting at the White House.

The Republican boss fumed: "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." Trump's outburst was dismissed by Russia's state controlled media, who took gleeful aim at the former Reality TV star.

The popular newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets claimed Trump's attempts to end the Ukraine war on his terms had been a "dismal failure". They then stuck the knife in further in a cruel gibe: "Trump received from Putin - albeit extremely politely and stretched out in time - a total slap down.

"This is a 'medical fact' that cannot be hidden or obscured. The US leader looks like a loser."

The White House unveiled its peace plan for Ukraine back in the spring, offering Putin many concessions. The proposals envisaged a de jure US recognition of Russian control over Crimea, as well de-facto acceptance of Moscow's current occupation of four Ukrainian regions - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. In addition, the White House has ruled out Ukraine joining Nato and promised to lift sanctions on Russia that have been imposed since 2014.

Trump also promised enhanced economic cooperation with Russia, particularly in the energy and industrial sectors.

However, the Kremlin boss has repeatedly stalled attempts to negotiate a ceasefire, as he eyes complete military victory in Ukraine.

In a stark warning to the West and Nato, a prominent Russian security expert said the current conflict was not really about Ukraine.

Dmitry Trenin, member of Russia's Foreign and Defence Council, wrote in an op-ed: "We ned to realise that the current conflict is not about Ukraine as such. It is (for now) an indirect war by the West on Russia.

"And this struggle is part of a world war in which the West is battling to preserve its hegemony. This war will be long and the US - with or without Trump - will remain our opponent."