US President Donald Trump has said he is “not happy” to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
In a rare responsibility, Trump said: “What happened to him? He’s killing a lot of people.” He later called Putin “absolutely crazy.”
Ukrainian President Voldimer Zelensky previously said Washington’s “silence” over the recent Russian attacks encouraged Putin and “strong pressure” on Moscow “including strong sanctions.”
At least 12 people were killed and dozens were injured in Ukraine on Sunday after Russia launched 367 drones and missiles.
Incoming drones and missile warnings reverberated in many parts of Ukraine early on Monday.
Mayor Ikhor Telekov said at least three people, including children, were injured in the city of Kharkov, a northeastern city.
Speaking to a New Jersey reporter late Sunday, Trump spoke about Putin. “I’ve known him for a long time and have always been with him, and he sends rockets to the city to kill people.
When asked if he was considering increasing US sanctions against Russia, Trump replied, “Absolutely.” The US president has repeatedly threatened to do this before, but has yet to implement restrictions on Moscow.
Shortly afterwards, Trump wrote in a post about the True Society that Putin “was absolutely crazy.”
“I’ve always said that he wants everything about Ukraine, and not only that, but also proves that it’s right, but if that’s the case, it’s going to lead to Russia’s downfall!”
However, the US President also had strong words to Zelensky, saying, “I have not benefited his country by speaking his country.”
“Everything from his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, it stops better,” Trump wrote of Zelensky.
Despite Kiev’s European allies preparing for further sanctions against Russia, the US said it would try to mediate these peace negotiations or continue to “leave” if progress does not continue.
Last week, Trump and Putin made a two-hour call to discuss stopping the fight over the US proportions ceasefire contract.
The US president believes the call has been “very well,” adding that Russia and Ukraine will soon begin negotiations towards a ceasefire and “end of the war.”
Ukraine has publicly agreed to a 30-day ceasefire.
Putin says that Russia is simply saying that it will work with Ukraine to create a “memorandum” on “future peace possibilities.” This is a move that Kiev and its European allies described as delaying tactics.
The first in-person Ukraine-Russia meeting since 2022 took place in Istanbul, Turkey on May 16th.
With the exception of last week’s major prisoner exchange, there was little or no progress in suspending the fight.
Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukraine’s territory. This includes the Crimea-Ukraine Southern Peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014.
