U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday called Russian President Vladimir Putin “absolutely CRAZY” following the largest air assault of the war in Ukraine, adding that he was considering new sanctions on Moscow.
"Something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!" Trump said of the Russian president on Truth Social. "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!"
Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, writing that he "is doing his country no favors by talking the way he does. Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don't like it, and it better stop."
Speaking to reporters at an airport in New Jersey, Trump said of Putin: "I don't know what's wrong with him. What the hell happened to him? Right? He's killing a lot of people. I'm not happy about that."
Trump said he was considering imposing additional sanctions on Russia in response to the intensifying attacks.
When asked to comment on the U.S. president's remarks on Monday, the Kremlin thanked Washington for its help in mediating negotiations with Ukraine, but suggested that the peace process could be causing Trump to experience stress.
"Of course, at the same time, this is a very serious moment, one that naturally comes with emotional strain for everyone and strong emotional reactions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.
Russian forces launched at least 367 drones and missiles between Saturday night and Sunday morning, in what Ukrainian officials described as the largest single air assault of the war. At least 12 people were killed, including three children in the northern Zhytomyr region.
While other strikes have caused more casualties, the weekend barrage was the most extensive in terms of weapons fired, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Trump has urged both sides to negotiate an end to the war, now in its fourth year, but Ukraine and Russia remain far apart on key issues.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
