Washington D.C., May 26, 2025 — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying any attempt to fully conquer Ukraine would trigger the "downfall" of Russia, even as he took aim at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his rhetoric during the ongoing war.
In a late-night post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump, who is campaigning for a return to the White House in November, offered a rare direct rebuke of Putin’s actions while reaffirming his previous relationship with the Russian leader.
“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 wrote. “He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers.”
The remarks followed a particularly violent weekend in Ukraine, where Russia launched its largest air assault in three years, including back-to-back overnight strikes. According to Ukrainian officials, Moscow deployed 298 drones and 69 missiles in a series of attacks that left at least 12 people dead, including three children.
Speaking earlier on Sunday, Trump told reporters he was “very surprised” by the scale and escalation of the Russian bombardment, despite what he described as efforts to broker a ceasefire.
When asked if he was considering additional sanctions on Moscow, Trump responded:
“Absolutely. He’s killing a lot of people. What the hell happened to him?”
However, in the same post, Trump shifted his criticism toward Ukraine's president.
“Zelenskyy is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does,” Trump said. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop.”
The Ukrainian leader had earlier condemned what he described as the “silence of America”, expressing frustration at the lack of new action following Russia’s attacks.
“Every such terrorist Russian strike is reason enough for new sanctions against Russia,” Zelenskyy said.
Kyiv Day — a day of celebration in Ukraine’s capital — began this year with sirens, explosions, and civilians taking shelter underground in metro stations and basements. The attacks have further strained already tense diplomatic efforts, as Ukraine and its European allies push for a 30-day ceasefire to begin the process of negotiating an end to the war.
Despite mounting pressure, Trump declined to support additional sanctions over Russia’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire, a move that drew criticism from both Kyiv and European capitals.
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, took to Telegram to express alarm over the ongoing violence.
“Without pressure, nothing will change and Russia and its allies will only build up forces for such murders in western countries,” Yermak wrote. “Moscow will fight as long as it has the ability to produce weapons.”
Trump’s comments come as he continues to claim that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours if elected president again — a promise he has repeated frequently on the campaign trail. However, the severity of recent Russian attacks appears to undermine claims that Putin is seeking peace.
With tensions rising, the global community remains closely attuned to Washington’s next moves. For now, Ukraine’s pleas for more decisive American leadership remain unanswered, as the country faces what may be one of its most perilous phases in the war.
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