IBY
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
In a dramatic shift from his typically cordial stance toward the Kremlin, U.S. President Donald Trump has lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him “crazy” in the wake of a deadly and unprecedented drone assault on Ukraine that killed at least 13 people over the weekend.
The attack, described by Ukraine as the largest of its kind since the start of the war, targeted major cities including Kyiv, with Ukrainian authorities confirming that 298 drones were launched overnight, of which 266 were downed by Ukrainian defenses. Despite these efforts, the scale of the assault inflicted severe casualties, with fatalities including children aged eight, twelve, and seventeen in the Zhytomyr region.
“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 posted on his Truth Social platform. “I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!”
This rare public rebuke signals a growing rift between Trump and Putin, as frustration mounts over Moscow’s intransigence in ceasefire negotiations with Kyiv. Trump confirmed on Sunday that he was “not happy” about the latest escalation and is considering new sanctions on Russia. “He’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” he told reporters.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the fresh wave of strikes, describing them as “terror” and warning that without stronger global pressure, Russia’s aggression would continue unchecked. “The silence of America, the silence of others around the world only encourages Putin,” Zelensky said, urging for more sanctions.
Despite the shared condemnation of Russia’s actions, Trump also took the opportunity to criticize Zelensky, accusing him of inflaming tensions. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop,” he wrote.
International leaders quickly echoed calls for action. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for “the strongest international pressure” on Moscow, while Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul denounced the Kremlin’s apparent disregard for peace. “Putin does not want peace, he wants to carry on the war and we shouldn’t allow him to do this,” Wadephul said, confirming plans for further EU sanctions.
The violence coincided with a significant diplomatic breakthrough a large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, facilitated by talks in Istanbul on May 16. Both sides returned 303 prisoners each, completing what has been described as the largest swap since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
An AFP correspondent witnessed emotional scenes as freed Ukrainian soldiers arrived at a hospital in Chernigiv. One of them, 58-year-old Viktor Syvak, who had been held for over three years since the fall of Mariupol, described the moment as indescribable. “It’s impossible to describe. I can’t put it into words,” he said, visibly moved.
While the drone attacks continued into Monday, Ukrainian officials reported fewer strikes. Nevertheless, two civilians were injured, and a house was destroyed in the village of Yurkivka in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Meanwhile, Moscow claimed its attacks were aimed at Ukraine’s “military-industrial complex” and reported shooting down 110 Ukrainian drones in retaliation. Flights at Moscow airports were temporarily suspended due to Ukrainian drone activity, although no injuries were reported.
As tensions continue to rise and diplomacy appears stalled, global attention now turns to whether Trump’s toughened stance and international pressure will shift Russia’s aggressive course or further inflame an already volatile conflict.
About Author
