By Parrot Newspaper 
Trump Turns on Putin After Deadly Airstrikes in Ukraine: “Absolutely Crazy”
By Parrot Newspaper International Desk
In a rare and pointed departure from his previously measured tone, U.S. President Donald Trump has unleashed a scathing critique of Russian President Vladimir Putin following what Ukrainian officials have described as Moscow’s largest aerial assault since the 2022 invasion began.
“What the hell happened to him? He’s killing a lot of people,” Trump said Sunday night, speaking to reporters in New Jersey. He later escalated his rhetoric on Truth Social, calling Putin “absolutely crazy” and warning that the Russian leader’s apparent ambition to seize all of Ukraine “will lead to the downfall of Russia.”
The comments came just hours after a brutal overnight assault on Ukraine that left at least 12 civilians dead and scores wounded. Russian forces reportedly launched 367 drones and missiles, an unprecedented single-night bombardment that stretched Ukraine’s already strained air defenses to their limits. Air raid sirens blared across multiple regions Monday morning, with continued attacks reported in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.
Cracks in Trump’s Russia Stance
Trump’s uncharacteristically harsh remarks on Putin mark a significant pivot from the leader who has long been criticized for downplaying Russian aggression. Despite years of political scrutiny over his ties to the Kremlin, Trump insisted Sunday that his personal rapport with Putin had not blinded him to the Russian president’s escalating brutality.
“I’ve known him a long time, always gotten along with him,” Trump said. “But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”
Pressed on whether new U.S. sanctions were imminent, Trump said “Absolutely,” though his administration has yet to announce any concrete measures. The president has previously signaled sanctions as a deterrent but stopped short of implementing them, drawing criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
Zelensky’s Plea and Washington’s Silence
The U.S. response—or lack thereof—has come under fire from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who accused Washington of emboldening Putin through its muted reactions. “Silence is encouraging him,” Zelensky warned, urging the U.S. to ramp up pressure on Moscow through tougher economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
Trump, however, had equally pointed words for Zelensky, accusing the Ukrainian leader of stoking tensions with his public statements. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems,” Trump wrote. “I don’t like it, and it better stop.”
The remark underscores a growing unease in Washington over Zelensky’s international posture, even as Ukraine remains dependent on Western military aid and political support.
Ceasefire Talks or Stalling Tactics?
Trump confirmed that he and Putin held a two-hour phone call last week centered on a U.S.-brokered ceasefire initiative. According to Trump, both Russia and Ukraine are prepared to begin negotiations “immediately” aimed at halting hostilities. Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in principle.
However, the Kremlin has stopped short of such clarity, stating only that it is open to drafting a “memorandum” on “possible future peace”—language Kyiv and its European allies dismiss as diplomatic foot-dragging. The first formal Russia-Ukraine talks since 2022 were held on May 16 in Istanbul, but aside from a symbolic prisoner swap, tangible progress remains elusive.
Geopolitical Stakes Mount
The situation on the ground remains dire. Russia currently occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea—annexed in 2014—and swathes of the eastern Donbas region. With Western support fragmented and internal U.S. politics heating up ahead of the 2026 midterms, the fate of Ukraine may hinge on whether the Trump administration shifts from rhetoric to action.
As Europe prepares additional sanctions and NATO signals frustration with diplomatic stagnation, Trump finds himself at a crossroads. His words may signal a turning point—but in global power politics, actions speak louder.
Trump Turns on Putin After Deadly Airstrikes in Ukraine
— Parrot Newspaper (ISSN 3092-8435)
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