U.S. President Donald Trump has strongly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin following the most intense Russian aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began.
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey on Sunday, Trump said he was “not happy” with Putin and questioned his recent actions, asking, “What the hell happened to him? He's killing a lot of people.” Later, on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Putin as “absolutely crazy,” adding, “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!”
The comments came after Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Ukraine, firing 367 missiles and drones. The strike killed at least 12 people and injured dozens more. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned what he called Washington’s “silence” in the face of increasing Russian aggression. He called for stronger action from the U.S., including tougher sanctions on Moscow.
In response to questions about further sanctions, Trump said he was “absolutely” considering them. However, while he has previously made similar threats, no new sanctions have yet been put in place.
Despite his sharp words for Putin, Trump also took aim at Zelensky, claiming the Ukrainian leader was not helping his country's position by the way he speaks publicly. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don't like it, and it better stop,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, emergency services were responding to the damage. In Kharkiv, three people, including a child, were reported injured, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. Air raid sirens continued to sound across the country into Monday morning.
Last week, Trump and Putin held a two-hour phone conversation discussing a proposed U.S.-led ceasefire plan. Trump claimed the talks went “very well” and said both Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start” negotiating to end the war. While Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, Russia has only committed to drafting a “memorandum” on a possible future peace, a move Ukraine and its allies believe is simply a stalling tactic.
The first direct peace talks between the two nations since 2022 were held recently in Istanbul, but little progress was made beyond a prisoner exchange. Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.