Key Points – Following a major Russian drone and missile barrage on Ukrainian cities over the May 24-25 weekend, US President Donald Trump delivered a sharp public rebuke of Vladimir Putin, labeling him “absolutely CRAZY” for the escalating violence and warning it could doom Russia.
-In a notable shift from their typical confrontational stance, top Russian officials, including Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, responded mildly, attributing Trump’s remarks to “emotional overload” and expressing gratitude for his peace negotiation efforts.
-This unusually temperate Russian reaction is interpreted by some as signaling vulnerability and concern over potential new US sanctions, which Trump indicated he is now considering.
Ukraine War Update: Trump Is Getting Angry
U.S. President Donald Trump shocked his critics in recent days by slamming Russian President Vladimir Putin as “crazy” for launching one of the largest drone assaults on Ukraine since the start of the war.
The comments, which came in the form of both a Truth Social post and a rant to journalists’ video cameras on a runway in New Jersey, displayed Trump’s obvious frustration with Putin’s refusal to back down from his most maximalist demands of both Ukraine and NATO forces.
Trump Just Made Things Worse in the Ukraine Crisis
“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. 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!” Trump said on Truth Social.
His comments immediately rattled Russia, despite their aggressive posturing, prompting two top officials to attempt to downplay the escalation.
What Did Russia Say?
In response to Trump’s comments, the Kremlin sought to temper the situation by attributing his remarks to emotional strain. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the comments appeared to come from an “emotional overload,” acknowledging the intense pressure that comes with facilitating such high-stakes peace negotiations.
“This is a very important moment which is connected to an emotional overload of everyone involved,” Peskov said.
Despite the criticism, Peskov sought to win favor with the U.S. president, thanking him for facilitating dialogue between the two warring countries and reflecting on the importance of continued diplomatic engagement.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also acknowledged the emotional strain all parties have been placed under throughout the conflict, and stressed that external parties, including European nations that do not agree with Trump’s approach to negotiating peace, should not hinder the peace process.
The comments both came from major Russian political figures not known for holding back in their criticism of NATO countries when they feel it necessary to portray, express, or communicate anger or frustration.
In attempting to temper emotions and appeal for President Trump’s continued support, Russia just exposed itself as vulnerable to, or concerned about, future sanctions that President Trump also said he is willing to explore in the wake of last weekend’s strikes on Kyiv and other major urban centers across Ukraine.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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