Trump Slams Putin After Russia Launches Largest Airstrike on Ukraine Since War Began
In the wake of Russia’s largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began, former US President Donald Trump delivered a strongly worded rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a rare public break with the leader he has previously praised. Speaking at Morristown airport in New Jersey on Sunday, Trump reacted sharply to the overnight bombardment that killed at least 12 and injured dozens.
Russia launched a total of 367 missiles and drones across multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, in a brutal overnight offensive that Ukraine’s Air Force described as the biggest aerial attack since the start of the invasion in 2022. Ukrainian forces claimed to have intercepted 45 missiles and destroyed 266 drones, but significant damage was reported in over 30 cities and villages.
Reacting to the escalation, Trump said, “I’m not happy with Putin. He’s killing a lot of people. I don’t know what the hell happened to him.” The comments came after a two-hour phone call last week between Trump and Putin, as the former president attempted to push for a ceasefire in the ongoing war.
“He’s sending rockets into cities and killing people. And I don’t like it at all,” Trump said, visibly upset. “If he wants all of Ukraine, it’ll lead to Russia’s downfall.”
The attack has drawn international condemnation, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disappointment with what he called the “silence” of the global community, especially the United States.
“The world may go on vacation, but the war continues,” Zelenskyy said in a press briefing on Monday. “America’s silence, and the silence of others in the world, only encourages Putin.”
Zelenskyy warned that unless serious pressure is placed on the Russian leadership, indiscriminate attacks on civilians would continue. He also confirmed that nearly every region in Ukraine was affected by the wave of strikes, many targeting civilian infrastructure.
On Truth Social, Trump acknowledged his past ties with Putin but said the Russian leader had “gone crazy” with the recent attacks. The statement marks one of Trump’s strongest public criticisms of Putin to date.
This development comes as peace negotiations falter. A planned peace summit in Turkey, set to include representatives from both Russia and Ukraine, was undermined by Putin’s no-show, dealing a serious blow to diplomatic efforts.
Despite repeated appeals from Western and NATO leaders, Moscow appears determined to escalate, not de-escalate. There has been no official comment from the Kremlin following Trump’s remarks.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which began with the Russian invasion in February 2022, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. Despite multiple rounds of sanctions and aid packages to Ukraine from Western allies, Russia has continued to expand its operations. The latest assault represents a significant escalation in a war that shows no signs of abating.
