U.S. President distances himself from Moscow amid rising civilian toll in Ukraine
WASHINGTON — In a blistering late-night social media post, U.S. President Donald Trump sharply rebuked Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him “absolutely CRAZY” as Russian missile and drone strikes hammered Ukrainian cities for a third consecutive night.
“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him,” Trump wrote Sunday. “He has gone absolutely CRAZY! Missiles and drones are being shot into cities in Ukraine for no reason whatsoever.”
The remarks mark Trump’s most aggressive language yet toward the Russian leader, amid what Ukrainian officials describe as the largest aerial assault since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. At least 12 people were killed and dozens more wounded in the latest wave of attacks.
Speaking to reporters earlier that day from Morristown, N.J., Trump expressed disbelief over Putin’s escalation: “He’s killing a lot of people. I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin… I’ve known him a long time, always got along with him, but I don’t like this at all.”
Despite condemning Putin’s actions, Trump didn’t hold back criticism for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy either, accusing him of inflaming tensions.
“Everything out of his mouth causes problems,” Trump wrote. “I don’t like it, and it better stop.”
The U.S. president, who campaigned on promises to end the war in Ukraine swiftly, has grown increasingly frustrated with the stalemate, even after facilitating what he described as renewed ceasefire talks. Trump and Putin reportedly spoke by phone last week, and Trump later declared that both Russia and Ukraine had agreed to “immediately” begin negotiations—though the Kremlin denied any upcoming direct talks.
Earlier peace discussions hosted in Turkey—the first face-to-face meetings between the two sides since 2022—produced little progress. Meanwhile, the European Union has ramped up sanctions against Russia in response to Putin’s ongoing aggression.
While Trump has threatened new sanctions and tariffs against Moscow, no concrete action has followed, leading to criticism from both sides of the aisle.
As Ukraine reels from the latest devastation and diplomatic efforts stall, Trump’s once-friendly tone with Putin appears to be hardening—signaling a potential shift in how the White House might approach the protracted conflict moving forward.