In a rare public outburst, former U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him “absolutely crazy” after Moscow launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine to date. The attack, which took place overnight on Sunday, involved 367 drones and missiles, marking the most significant offensive since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
At least 12 individuals were killed, and dozens more were injured as a result of the onslaught. The continued air raid has left Ukrainian cities on edge, with air sirens sounding across the country. In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, three people, including a child, were injured, while two more were reported hurt in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.
Trump, speaking from New Jersey late Sunday, expressed dismay over Putin’s actions, stating, “What the hell happened to him? He’s killing a lot of people.” He continued, “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 has long had a contentious relationship with U.S. foreign policy, but his condemnation of Putin’s latest actions was particularly striking.
The former U.S. president also took to Truth Social, where he penned a post that read, “Putin has gone absolutely crazy. 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!”
In addition to his criticism of Putin, Trump directed sharp words at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “Zelensky is doing his country no favours by talking the way he does,” Trump wrote. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop.”
While Kyiv’s European allies are ramping up sanctions on Russia, the United States has expressed a willingness to mediate peace talks between the warring nations, but it may “walk away” if no progress is made. This comes after a two-hour phone call between Trump and Putin last week, during which the two discussed a ceasefire proposal. Trump was optimistic that the conversation had gone well, believing that both Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start” negotiating for a ceasefire.
Zelensky, however, voiced concerns about the lack of U.S. action on Russia’s recent attacks, suggesting that Washington’s “silence” is emboldening Putin. He has called for “strong pressure” on Moscow, including the implementation of tougher sanctions.
As tensions continue to rise, the situation in Ukraine remains perilous. The conflict has resulted in Russia occupying about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Despite multiple ceasefire talks, including one held in Istanbul in mid-May, there has been little progress toward ending the violence.
Trump’s remarks add a new layer of complexity to an already volatile situation. His harsh criticism of Putin, paired with his frustration towards Zelensky, paints a picture of the challenges faced by the international community in navigating the ongoing crisis.
