ISLAMABAD (PEN) : US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin after Moscow launched its most extensive aerial assault on Ukraine since the 2022 invasion. The overnight attack involved a barrage of 367 drones and missiles, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and dozens of injuries across several Ukrainian regions.
Trump’s Strong Rebuke
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey late on Sunday, President Trump expressed his dismay over the scale of the attack, stating, “What the hell happened to him? He’s killing a lot of people.” He further described Putin as “absolutely crazy” in a post on Truth Social. ([BBC][1])
In the same post, Trump reiterated his longstanding belief that Putin seeks to take all of Ukraine, warning such ambitions could spell disaster for Russia. “If he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia,” he wrote.
Zelensky’s Call for Stronger US Action
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned what he described as Washington’s “silence” in response to recent Russian aggression. He urged the US to ramp up pressure on Moscow through tougher sanctions, stating that inaction only emboldens Putin. 
Diplomatic Efforts and Ceasefire Talks
The latest developments come just days after a two-hour phone call between Trump and Putin, during which the two leaders discussed a proposed US-backed ceasefire plan. Trump claimed the conversation had gone “very well” and expressed optimism that negotiations for a truce would begin promptly. 
Although Kyiv has agreed to a temporary 30-day ceasefire, Moscow has responded more cautiously. Putin said Russia is prepared to work on a memorandum outlining a “possible future peace,” a formulation that Kyiv and European capitals dismissed as stalling.
The first direct Ukraine-Russia talks since 2022 were held on May 16 in Istanbul, with limited success. Aside from a significant prisoner exchange, little headway was made in halting the conflict, now in its third year.
