US President Donald Trump sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, calling him “crazy” following a devastating drone attack on Ukraine that killed at least 13 people overnight. The remarks come even as Russia and Ukraine completed a significant prisoner exchange.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” He added, “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 drone attack marked a record barrage by Russian forces, intensifying the ongoing conflict. Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters he was “not happy” about the attack and indicated he was “absolutely” considering increasing sanctions against Moscow.
“I’ve known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” Trump said, signaling a rare and blunt rebuke of Putin, whom he has previously spoken of admiring.
The attack occurred amidst a backdrop of a large-scale prisoner swap between the two nations, with about 1,000 detainees exchanged in a major wartime deal. However, the escalation in violence underscores the fragility of any progress toward peace.
The continuing bombardments have been described as acts of “terror” by Ukrainian officials, as the conflict shows no signs of abating despite diplomatic efforts.
