President Donald Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin following a weekend of strikes against Ukraine, marking a more critical tone toward the Russian leader.
“What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday, after writing on the platform that Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY!” over the weekend.
Speaking to reporters Monday, President Trump condemned Putin’s actions in Ukraine, stating, “I’m not happy with what Putin's doing. He’s killing a lot of people, and I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin.” He emphasized that the attacks on civilian areas, particularly in Kyiv, are unacceptable, stating, “We’re in the middle of talking, and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don’t like it at all.”
The latest comments stand in contrast to those made a little more than a week ago after Trump spoke with Putin by phone and said he told Putin “you got to stop this thing” but that he believed Putin wanted to end the war.
Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine faced more than 900 attacks drones, in addition to ballistic and cruise missiles, and warned that “there is ample evidence that they [Russia] are preparing new offensive operations.
“We are monitoring reports that this weekend's air strikes by Russia constituted the largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the war,” US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, adding they are “calling for restraint and urge all parties to avoid further escalation.”
Over the Memorial Day weekend, President Trump took to social media to ponder whether Putin aims to take control of all of Ukraine, suggesting that such ambition could lead to Russia's downfall.
In response to President Trump's message, Tuesday, Russian state media replied, "Trump’s message leaves little room for misinterpretation until he posts the opposite tomorrow morning."
While the state department shied away from characterizing Trump’s comments as frustration, the comments marked a notable shift in tone.
“It’s clear that Trump feels vulnerable and exposed. That’s why he made what I have to call his toughest statement on Putin yet,” said former US ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, who is also the senior director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council. But Herbst noted whether Trump does anything is a question.
“This is the first time Trump said well maybe Putin wants to take all of Ukraine but ‘maybe,’ so in other words it’s still the if clause,” Herbst added.
Trump told reporters he is “absolutely” considering sanctions against Russia, an idea he’s publicly left on the table but hasn’t moved forward on as the administration engaged with Russia.
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As lawmakers return to Capitol Hill following the holiday, the focus shifts to potential legislative responses. A bipartisan bill gaining traction in the Senate, supported by over 80 senators, seeks to impose penalties on nations buying Russian energy — an initiative driven by the belief that targeting Russia's revenue from oil sales is essential to undermine Putin’s actions.
Despite bipartisan support for enhanced sanctions and economic penalties, the Trump administration has largely refrained from pushing forward with new measures. In contrast, several Republican senators have expressed the need for a more decisive approach to counter Putin’s aggression.
Some lawmakers are publicly highlighting their stances.
“I believe president trump was sincere when he thought his friendship w Putin wld end the war. Now that being the case ITS TIME FOR SANCTIONS STRONG ENUF SO PUTIN KNOWS “game over,”” Sen. Chuck Grassley wrote on X.
“Tough sanctions on Russia are good… should have been that way since the invasion,” Rep. Don Bacon wrote on X.
“I appreciate all that President Trump has done to try to end this terrible war. But to end any war, you must have willing partners. As of yet, Putin is not willing,” bill sponsor Sen. Lindsey Graham wrote on X.
It remains uncertain if Trump’s statements will lead to any substantial policy changes or actions in the coming days.
“This war is Joe Biden’s fault, and President Trump has been clear he wants to see a negotiated peace deal. President Trump has also smartly kept all options on the table,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated.
The administration’s posture hasn’t changed since the beginning of the administration, according to an administration official, who noted that President Trump is monitoring the situation and wants a peaceful resolution.
Last week when Scripps News asked if further arming Ukraine was on the table if Putin ultimately proves to be the obstacle to peace, Trump said, “Well, we'll look, I mean, we're gonna look, I hope that, I like to think positively frankly. I just can't believe that they allowed this to continue. This would have never happed if I were president. And most people admit that, and it didn't happen for four years."
Amidst these developments, European nations like Germany are reportedly easing range restrictions placed on Ukrainian weapons, allowing Ukraine to target Russian military assets more freely.
The Biden administration previously had authorized Ukraine’s use of long range weapons to strike inside Russia.
