Former President Donald Trump condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin harshly on Sunday, calling him “absolutely CRAZY” after Moscow fired its largest air attack on Ukraine in three years. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump was amazed at Putin’s increased missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, which have left many civilian casualties, including children.
I had a very good relationship with Putin, but something went wrong,” Trump said. Earlier in the day, he told journalists, “I’m not happy about what Putin is doing. I don’t know what happened to him.
The weekend-long Russian offensive was a heightened aerial bombardment of the war to date, killing at least 29 and injuring scores. This increased pressure came as the international community intensified pressure on Putin to accept a proposed 30-day ceasefire.
As a reaction to Trump’s words, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called them “emotional reactions” but thanked Trump for his attempts to pressure Moscow into talks with Kyiv.
Trump also hinted he could back fresh sanctions against Russia, a departure from his earlier hesitation, and took a shot at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his language, saying it “causes problems” and must end.
After meetings with Putin, Zelenskyy, and European allies, Trump announced Russia and Ukraine would start immediate ceasefire talks. Trump stressed that the particulars would be negotiated directly between the two sides, highlighting the intricacy of the conflict.
In the meantime, world leaders prepare for a long war, with Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasizing the need for US continued assistance to Ukraine. The time is tense as hopes for peace are mounting challenges in the face of ongoing violence.
