Topline
President Donald Trump attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticized Moscow’s continued aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities on Sunday, signaling his frustration over the stalled peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, just a week after he had a phone call with Putin and said both sides had agreed to “immediately” start direct talks.
U.S. President Donald walks on the the south lawn of the White House in Washington, DC.
Key Facts
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday night, the president launched into his most direct criticism of Putin’s handling of the Ukraine war, saying he always had a “very good relationship” with the Russian leader, but “something has happened to him…He has gone absolutely CRAZY!”
Trump attacked Putin for “needlessly killing a lot of people” and called him out for launching “Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.”
The president reiterated he believes Putin wants “ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it,” but warned that doing so will “lead to the downfall of Russia!”
While boarding Air Force One in New Jersey earlier on Sunday, Trump told reporters he was not “happy with what Putin is doing,” and said he didn’t know “what the hell happened to Putin…but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”
When asked, Trump said he was “absolutely” considering fresh sanctions against Russia.
What Did Trump Say About Zelenskyy?
Trump’s sharp rebuke of Putin comes after a concerted push for more sanctions against Russia by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The president’s post, however, also criticized Zelenskyy, with whom he has a tumultuous relationship since taking office. Trump wrote the Ukrainian president was “doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does. Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop.” It is unclear what exactly Trump was referencing here, but the two leaders publicly clashed the last time Zelenskyy visited the White House.
Crucial Quote
Trump, who had previously claimed he would swiftly end the Ukraine war after taking office, appeared frustrated with the lack of progress in peace talks, but insisted he was not to blame for this. “This is a War that would never have started if I were President. This is Zelenskyy’s, Putin’s, and Biden’s War, not “Trump’s,” I am only helping to put out the big and ugly fires, that have been started through Gross Incompetence and Hatred,” he wrote.
Key Background
At least 12 people were killed and dozens were injured across Ukraine on Saturday night and Sunday morning after Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks on the country since the start of the war. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia fired at least 367 projectiles, including 298 drones and 69 missiles, at various cities across Ukraine. Kyiv’s forces were able to shoot down 266 drones and 45 missiles. Zelenkskyy decried the attack on social media, saying: “Each such terrorist Russian strike is a sufficient reason for new sanctions against Russia. Russia is dragging out this war and continues to kill every day…This cannot be ignored. Silence of America, silence of others around the world only encourage Putin.”
Tangent
After Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy all skipped peace talks in Turkey earlier this month, Trump told reporters that “nothing is going to happen until Putin and I get together.” The president eventually had a two-hour-long call with his Russian counterpart last week, after which he said Russia and Ukraine will engage in direct talks to “immediately” begin negotiations for a ceasefire agreement. Trump said the “tone and spirit of the conversation” with Putin was “excellent,” and the two of them also discussed building a U.S.-Russia trade relationship after the war.
Further Reading
Trump Says Ukraine And Russia Will Negotiate Ceasefire Directly After Putin Call (Forbes)
