U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a rare and sharp condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin following Russia’s most intense aerial bombardment of Ukraine since the start of the 2022 invasion. The attack, involving 367 missiles and drones, left at least 12 dead and dozens more injured.
Speaking from New Jersey, Trump expressed dismay: “What the hell happened to him? He’s killing a lot of people,” later adding on Truth Social that Putin had “gone absolutely crazy.” Despite a long-standing relationship with the Russian leader, Trump criticized the escalating violence and suggested new U.S. sanctions against Russia could be on the table—though similar threats in the past have not led to concrete action.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in response to the assault, condemned what he described as U.S. “silence,” arguing that it only emboldens Russia. He urged stronger American action, including harsher sanctions. The overnight assault triggered air raid sirens across the country and wounded civilians in cities like Kharkiv.
While condemning Putin, Trump also turned his fire on Zelensky, criticizing the Ukrainian leader’s rhetoric. He claimed Zelensky’s remarks were problematic and should “stop,” suggesting they hinder diplomatic progress.
Trump revealed that he and Putin recently held a two-hour phone call regarding a U.S.-proposed ceasefire plan. He described the discussion as productive and claimed that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine were set to resume immediately. Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposal, but Moscow has stopped short of a formal commitment, instead offering only to draft a memorandum on future peace discussions—a move Kyiv and its allies view as a stalling tactic.
The 16 May talks in Istanbul marked the first face-to-face negotiation between Ukrainian and Russian officials since 2022. Though they yielded a significant prisoner exchange, tangible progress toward a broader resolution remains elusive.
Currently, Russia occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014. Despite diplomatic efforts, the war shows no signs of ending soon.
