U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing him as “crazy” and warning that Putin’s aggressive actions in Ukraine could precipitate the downfall of Russia itself.
The remarks come in the wake of Russia’s largest-ever drone assault on Ukraine, which tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people, including three children aged 8, 12, and 17 years old. The deadly strike heightened tensions as Ukraine and Russia simultaneously conducted a large-scale prisoner exchange involving 303 captives from each side, underscoring the ongoing volatility of the conflict.
In a strongly worded post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!”
He went on to elaborate, “I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!” These words mark a striking departure from Trump’s usual rhetoric, as he has often spoken of Putin in more favorable terms over the years.
Speaking to reporters, Trump emphasized that despite his longstanding acquaintance and past cordial relations with Putin, he is now deeply disturbed by the recent violent attacks on Ukrainian cities. “I’ve known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” Trump said, hinting at the possibility of increased sanctions on Moscow in response to the escalating violence.
The Ukrainian government described the atmosphere following the attacks as one of “terror,” as the country endured a second consecutive night of intense Russian air strikes. The Ukrainian military reported successfully shooting down 266 drones and 45 missiles overnight, demonstrating their resilience amid relentless bombardment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media to call for stronger international pressure on Russia. He warned that the world’s silence only emboldens the Kremlin’s brutal actions. “Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped,” Zelensky wrote.
He continued, “The silence of America, the silence of others around the world only encourages Putin. Sanctions will certainly help.” Zelensky’s appeal for more decisive action resonated with top European leaders, who also called for tougher measures against Russia.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, condemned the drone attacks, stating they were clear evidence of Russia’s intent to inflict suffering and destruction on Ukraine. “Last night’s attacks again show Russia bent on more suffering and the annihilation of Ukraine,” she said in a statement.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul similarly voiced support for additional sanctions, declaring, “Putin does not want peace, he wants to carry on the war and we shouldn’t allow him to do this.” He added, “For this reason we will approve further sanctions at a European level,” signaling a firm commitment from key EU members to escalate punitive measures
against Moscow.