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U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he had “gone absolutely CRAZY” following what Ukrainian officials described as the most intense aerial assault of the war so far. Trump also indicated he is considering additional sanctions against Moscow, while also rebuking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump voiced alarm over the overnight wave of drone and missile attacks across Ukraine. The bombardment kept Ukrainians awake for a third consecutive night, as air raid sirens and explosions echoed through cities and towns.
Ukraine’s military reported that 355 drones and nine cruise missiles were launched during the assault, calling it the largest drone strike since the war began.
“Something’s happened to him — he’s gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump said, referring to Putin. “I’ve said before, he wants all of Ukraine — not just a piece. If that’s true, it could lead to Russia’s downfall.”
Trump didn’t hold back criticism of Zelenskyy either, writing that the Ukrainian leader “is doing his country no favors by the way he talks. Everything he says makes things worse. I don’t like it, and it needs to stop.”
A spokesperson for the Kremlin responded to Trump’s comments by acknowledging the emotional strain of the moment, saying that such tensions could be prompting strong reactions. They thanked the American public and Trump personally for efforts to push for peace negotiations.
Ukraine’s air force said the third consecutive night of aerial strikes hit five regions across the country. Officials reported damage to homes and industrial sites in western Ukraine, and a 14-year-old boy was injured in the southern port city of Odesa.
Russia claimed its strikes were aimed at military targets and said they were in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian areas.
Zelenskyy, in a message posted on X, didn’t directly respond to Trump but criticized the international focus on diplomacy with Putin over applying real pressure. He renewed calls for more sanctions and emphasized that only force can deter Russia’s actions.
Speaking to reporters in Morristown, New Jersey, Trump added: “I don’t know what’s going on with him. What the hell happened to him? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that.”
He reiterated that further sanctions are being considered.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the recent barrage involved at least 367 drones and missiles, killing 12 people — including three children — in the northern Zhytomyr region. While not the deadliest attack, it marked the largest in terms of munitions used.
Trump has been pressing both sides to end the conflict, now in its fourth year, but peace talks have stalled and hostilities are intensifying. Russian forces continue advancing in the east, and both countries are increasingly relying on drone warfare along active frontlines.
Russia maintains that its campaign is a defensive action meant to push back against NATO’s expansion. Ukraine, however, views the invasion as a clear and unprovoked war of aggression aimed at taking its land.
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