Former U.S. President Donald Trump delivered an uncharacteristically sharp rebuke of Russian leader Vladimir Putin following Moscow’s deadliest aerial offensive in its three-year war on Ukraine. The attack, which killed at least 13 civilians, including children, and injured over 60, has reignited debates over whether diplomatic solutions can temper the conflict’s escalating violence.
Trump, who has long touted his rapport with Putin, took to Truth Social on Sunday, accusing the Russian president of having “gone CRAZY” and “needlessly killing a lot of people.” This marked a stark shift for Trump, who previously claimed he could broker peace “within days” if reelected. Hours earlier, he told reporters he was “not happy” with Putin’s actions, signalling mounting frustration over stalled negotiations.
The assault itself shattered records: Ukraine intercepted 266 drones and 45 missiles out of 298 launched overnight, calling it Russia’s largest aerial barrage since the invasion began. In Zhytomyr, a northwestern region, children aged eight, 12, and 17 were among the dead, with emergency crews describing scenes of “terror” across cities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused global powers of emboldening Moscow through inaction, stating, “The silence of America and others encourages Putin.” His plea for tougher sanctions contrasted with Trump’s criticism of Zelenskyy’s rhetoric, which the former U.S. leader claimed “causes problems” and should “stop.”
Europe, meanwhile, amplified calls for accountability. Germany’s foreign minister condemned Putin’s refusal to pursue peace, vowing tighter EU sanctions. While Western penalties have strained Russia’s economy, their impact on halting military aggression remains unclear. Could coordinated global pressure finally force Moscow’s hand?
A rare humanitarian breakthrough emerged amid the chaos: Russia and Ukraine swapped 606 prisoners, their largest exchange since 2022. Yet hopes for ceasefire talks faded as the Kremlin dismissed immediate negotiations, despite Trump’s earlier assertion that both sides agreed to “start talks toward an END to the war.”
Trump’s harsher stance raises questions about its timing ahead of the U.S. election. Is this a strategic pivot to counter critics of his Putin-friendly image, or a genuine reaction to the war’s spiralling human cost? With Kyiv under relentless fire and diplomacy lagging, the conflict’s trajectory now hinges on whether global sanctions gain momentum and if Trump’s words translate into policy shifts.
