Trump Says Putin Has Gone ‘Absolutely Crazy’ After Latest Attack on Ukraine, Mulls Russia Sanctions

Source: YouTube

President Donald Trump has said he is “absolutely” weighing new Russia sanctions after Moscow launched its most aggressive wave of missile and drone strikes in three years. Speaking from New Jersey over the weekend, Trump described Vladimir Putin as “absolutely crazy” and criticized him for killing civilians in Ukraine’s cities “for no reason whatsoever.”

The remarks followed Russia’s overnight launch of nearly 300 drones and 69 missiles across Ukrainian territory, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens. Ukraine’s air force said it was the largest aerial assault since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Putin’s Escalation Prompts U.S. Response

Trump’s comments reflect growing U.S. frustration with Russia’s conduct in the war. “He’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” Trump told reporters. Though Trump has previously resisted increasing pressure on Moscow, his tone changed after the scale of Saturday’s attack. The former president added that he has known Putin for a long time but no longer understands his behavior.

Russia’s defense ministry, for its part, claimed it had intercepted 96 Ukrainian drones aimed at 12 Russian regions. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed the casualties from Moscow’s barrage and said the death toll may rise as damage reports come in.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by calling for more international action. “The silence of America, the silence of others in the world only encourages Putin,” he wrote on Telegram. Zelensky emphasized that the latest Russian attack “is reason enough for new sanctions against Russia.”

Calls for Russia Sanctions Multiply Across the West

Pressure to implement tougher Russia sanctions is growing, not just from Kyiv but also from Europe. Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul declared on national television that “Putin is not interested in peace” and that the EU will move forward with new sanctions. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, echoed that view, calling for “the strongest international pressure on Russia to stop this war.”

The latest calls follow the third day of prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, which saw each side release 1,000 prisoners, including civilians. Although symbolic of possible backchannel diplomacy, the humanitarian gesture was overshadowed by Moscow’s air assault.

Trump Also Criticizes Zelensky and Reframes the Conflict

While Trump directed most of his anger at Putin, he also rebuked President Volodymyr Zelensky for his public remarks about the war. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems. I don’t like it, and it better stop,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He said Zelensky “is doing his country no favors by talking the way he does.”

Trump also distanced himself from the war’s outcome, writing that the conflict is “Zelensky’s, Putin’s, and Biden’s War—not Trump’s.” His renewed push to sanction Russia contrasts with his earlier reluctance to escalate U.S. involvement. Options now reportedly include targeting Russia’s oil trade and sanctioning Rosneft, the state-owned oil giant.

Military Aid and Global Optics in Play

As diplomatic tensions grow, Ukraine continues to receive military support from its allies. The Netherlands confirmed it will deliver the last of its promised F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine on Monday. The jets will bolster Ukraine’s air defense capacity amid renewed Russian attacks.

At the same time, criticism over the U.S. administration’s response has surfaced. Keith Kellogg, special envoy for Ukraine, condemned the attacks but avoided directly naming Russia or Putin. His post focused on the violation of international humanitarian law but did not address accountability.

Trump’s shift suggests a more active posture may follow if Russia sanctions are imposed. Whether this marks a sustained change in U.S. foreign policy remains to be seen. But the rhetoric signals a new phase in Trump’s approach to the war, as both sides show little sign of de-escalation.

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