US President Donald Trump criticised his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin following Moscow’s most extensive aerial assault on Ukraine since the 2022 invasion began.
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey late on Sunday, Trump expressed dismay over the scale of the overnight attack that killed at least 12 people and injured dozens more across Ukraine. “What the hell happened to him? He’s killing a lot of people,” Trump said, before describing Putin as “absolutely crazy” in a post on Truth Social.
The Russian military reportedly launched a barrage of 367 drones and missiles in the early hours of Sunday — the highest number in a single night since the full-scale war began. Air raid sirens echoed across several Ukrainian regions, with fresh strikes reported again on Monday morning. In Kharkiv, at least three people, including a child, were wounded, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemned what he described as Washington’s “silence” in response to recent Russian aggression. He urged the US to ramp up pressure on Moscow through tougher sanctions, stating that inaction only emboldens Putin.
Although Trump has consistently voiced criticism of the war, his latest comments mark a rare shift in tone from his previously measured language on Putin. “I’ve known him a long time, always gotten along with him,” Trump said. “But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”
When asked about further punitive measures against Moscow, the US president said new sanctions were “absolutely” under consideration. However, Washington has yet to implement any fresh restrictions, despite previous threats.
In the same Truth Social post where he called Putin “absolutely crazy”, Trump reiterated his longstanding belief that Putin seeks to take all of Ukraine, warning such ambitions could spell disaster for Russia. “If he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia,” he wrote.
However, Trump also directed criticism at President Zelensky, accusing the Ukrainian leader of worsening tensions. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems. I don’t like it, and it better stop,” Trump wrote.
Diplomatic efforts appear to be at a crossroads. Although European nations are preparing further sanctions against Russia, the United States has indicated that it may withdraw from mediation efforts if meaningful progress is not made.
The latest developments come just days after a two-hour phone call between Trump and Putin, during which the two leaders discussed a proposed US-backed ceasefire plan. Trump claimed the conversation had gone “very well” and expressed optimism that negotiations for a truce would begin promptly.
While Kyiv has agreed to a temporary 30-day ceasefire, Moscow has responded more cautiously. Putin said Russia is prepared to work on a memorandum outlining a “possible future peace,” a formulation that Kyiv and European capitals dismissed as stalling.
The first direct Ukraine-Russia talks since 2022 were held on May 16 in Istanbul, with limited success. Aside from a significant prisoner exchange, little headway was made in halting the conflict, now in its third year.
