Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “crazy” following a record wave of deadly drone attacks on Ukraine that left at least 13 people dead, including children, and triggered international condemnation.
Trump, who has frequently spoken admiringly of Putin, took a notably sharper tone on his Truth Social platform, writing: “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!”
“I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it… but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!” Trump added, warning of escalating consequences for Moscow’s ongoing aggression.
His comments came after Russia launched a massive overnight drone assault on Ukraine, with officials confirming the deaths of civilians aged 8, 12, and 17 in the Zhytomyr region. The strikes, described by Ukraine’s emergency services as acts of “terror,” included attacks on Kyiv and several western regions. The Ukrainian military reported shooting down 45 missiles and 266 drones — the highest number of drones used in a single attack to date.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Trump said he was “not happy” about the renewed strikes and was “absolutely” considering stronger sanctions on Russia. “He’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for greater international pressure. “Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped,” he said. Zelensky also warned that silence from key global players “only encourages Putin,” while emphasizing the need for increased sanctions.
Trump, however, also criticized Zelensky, accusing the Ukrainian leader of using inflammatory rhetoric. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop,” Trump said.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed the call for action, describing Russia’s overnight assault as evidence that Putin “does not want peace” and vowing that the EU would “approve further sanctions.”
Meanwhile, both Ukraine and Russia confirmed a major prisoner exchange over the weekend, involving the return of 303 prisoners of war from each side — the largest such swap since the war began in February 2022. The agreement was brokered during talks in Istanbul on May 16.
An AFP reporter witnessed the arrival of some freed Ukrainian soldiers at a hospital in Chernigiv, visibly frail but jubilant. “I’m overwhelmed,” said 58-year-old Viktor Syvak, one of the released captives.
Russia claimed its strikes targeted Ukraine’s “military-industrial complex” and said it had intercepted 110 Ukrainian drones. Ukraine reported further Russian strikes overnight into Monday, though on a smaller scale. In the Zaporizhzhia region, two people were injured when a residential building was hit in the village of Yurkivka.
The intensifying attacks and diplomatic tensions come amid stalled negotiations and rising global anxiety over the conflict’s escalation.
