Trump Criticizes Putin’s Madness Over Ukraine Conflict

President Trump blasts Putin as “absolutely CRAZY” following Russia’s largest drone attack on Ukraine, signaling a potential shift in his approach to the Kremlin.

Key Points

Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him “absolutely CRAZY” after Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine.
Russia launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine, with 355 drones and nine missiles fired.
President Donald Trump is considering new sanctions against Russia amidst Ukraine’s reports of Moscow’s largest drone barrage of the war.
The Kremlin responded politely to Trump’s comments, indicating a desire not to antagonize the US president.

Trump’s Sudden Change of Tone Toward Putin Raises Eyebrows

In a stunning departure from his typically amicable rhetoric toward the Russian leader, President Donald Trump unleashed a scathing rebuke of Vladimir Putin on social media yesterday. “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump declared, following reports of Russia’s largest drone barrage of the war against Ukraine. This uncharacteristically harsh criticism marks a significant shift in Trump’s public stance toward the Kremlin and suggests growing frustration with Russia’s continued aggression.

The outburst comes after Ukraine reported that Russia launched an unprecedented 355 drones and nine missiles in what Ukrainian officials described as the largest aerial assault of the conflict to date. Trump’s remarks also included criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, indicating that the U.S. president remains dissatisfied with both sides of the conflict. This dual criticism underscores Trump’s increasing impatience with the stalled peace negotiations that his administration has been trying to facilitate.

'He has gone absolutely crazy': Trump rebukes Putin after weekend attacks on Ukraine https://t.co/vBpPOWhJN7

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 26, 2025

Kremlin’s Careful Response Reveals Strategic Patience

Rather than responding with equal vitriol, the Kremlin opted for a remarkably measured approach to Trump’s fiery criticism. Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, diplomatically characterized the situation as “a very important moment which is connected to an emotional overload of everyone involved.” This restrained reaction suggests that Moscow is determined not to damage its relationship with the Trump administration, despite the public rebuke. The Kremlin seems to be playing a longer game, recognizing that maintaining open channels with Washington remains in its strategic interest.

“Of course, the start of the negotiation process, for which the American side made a lot of effort, is a very important achievement and we are truly grateful to the Americans and personally to President Trump for their help in organising and launching this negotiation process. It’s a very important achievement. Of course, at the same time this is a very important moment which is connected to an emotional overload of everyone involved and emotional reactions. We carefully monitor all the reactions. However, President Putin takes those decisions which are necessary for the security of our country.” – Dmitry Peskov

Peskov’s comments reveal Moscow’s delicate balancing act: expressing gratitude for Trump’s role in facilitating negotiations while simultaneously defending Putin’s decisions as necessary for Russian security. This diplomatic tightrope walking demonstrates the Kremlin’s unwillingness to burn bridges with the Trump administration, even as tensions escalate. Meanwhile, European leaders are watching closely, with French President Emmanuel Macron suggesting that Trump may finally be realizing that Putin has not been truthful about his intentions in Ukraine.

Sanctions on the Table as Trump’s Patience Wears Thin

President Trump has made it clear that he’s “absolutely weighing” new sanctions against Russia in response to the escalating violence. This potential action marks a notable shift from his previous reluctance to impose additional penalties on Moscow. The timing is particularly significant as Ukrainian President Zelensky prepares to visit Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about further negotiations and EU sanctions against Russia. Trump’s frustration appears to be growing with both the pace of peace talks and Russia’s continued military actions.

“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him, he has gone absolutely CRAZY!” – Donald Trump

The situation grows even more complex with Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service accusing China of supplying Russia with military materials, and Finland summoning Russia’s ambassador over a suspected airspace violation. These developments highlight the expanding international dimensions of the conflict and the increasing pressure on Trump to take a firmer stance. As Memorial Day approaches, with Trump planning to attend a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, his administration faces mounting calls from both domestic and international voices to show stronger leadership in addressing Putin’s aggression.