Speaking to reporters earlier on Sunday, Trump said he was “not happy” about the overnight bombardment and confirmed he was “absolutely” considering more sanctions against Moscow
By Titilope Adako
United States President Donald Trump has launched a blistering rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing him as “crazy” following a record-breaking drone assault on Ukraine that left at least 13 people dead, including children.
Despite their previously warm ties, Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, expressed deep frustration with the Russian leader. “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 wrote.
The former US president accused Putin of escalating the war by relentlessly targeting Ukrainian cities, warning that Russia’s aggression could ultimately backfire. “He wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it… if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!” Trump stated.
Speaking to reporters earlier on Sunday, Trump said he was “not happy” about the overnight bombardment and confirmed he was “absolutely” considering more sanctions against Moscow. “He’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” he said.
The drone strikes, which Ukraine said included nearly 300 aerial attacks—the highest number to date—caused widespread destruction. Victims included children aged eight, 12, and 17 in Zhytomyr. Ukraine’s emergency services described the situation as one of “terror.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the renewed attacks and called for stronger international pressure on Moscow. “The silence of America, the silence of others around the world only encourages Putin,” he posted on social media, urging additional sanctions to curb the violence.
Meanwhile, Trump also took aim at Zelensky, accusing him of inflaming tensions. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems. I don’t like it, and it better stop,” he said.
European leaders echoed the calls for more action. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said further European sanctions would be imposed, while the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, urged for the “strongest international pressure” to end the war.
As Ukraine’s military claimed to have downed 45 missiles and 266 drones, Russia defended the strikes, saying they targeted Ukraine’s military-industrial infrastructure. Ukraine reported additional casualties across Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, and Mykolaiv regions, with at least 10 people killed in total.
Amid the violence, a major prisoner exchange was completed. Both countries swapped 303 prisoners each, concluding an agreement brokered in Istanbul. President Zelensky confirmed the deal, while emotional scenes played out as freed Ukrainian soldiers returned home.
One former prisoner, Viktor Syvak, held for over three years, told AFP: “It’s impossible to describe. I can’t put it into words.”
Despite the prisoner exchange, the latest drone offensive underscores the persistent volatility of the conflict and the mounting toll on civilians, even as diplomatic efforts struggle to gain traction.
Join us on our Whatssap Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE
KoikiMedia Bringing the World 🌎 Closer to Your Doorstep