**US President Trump Condemns Russia’s Attacks on Ukraine**
In a strong rebuke of Russia’s weekend bombardment of Ukraine, US President Donald Trump has expressed his “disapproval” of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions. Speaking to reporters at an airport in New Jersey on May 25, Trump said he was not happy with Putin and accused him of killing many people.
Trump’s comments came after a massive air assault by Russia on Ukraine over the weekend, which saw more than 600 drones and dozens of missiles launched from Friday to Sunday. The attacks were among the heaviest in the war so far, targeting numerous cities including Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytsky, Ternopil, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, and Poltava.
At least 12 people were killed, including three children, and 79 injured in the strikes. More than 80 residential buildings have been damaged.
Trump has long pushed for a ceasefire in the war now in its fourth year, and his comments reflect growing international pressure on Russia to stop its attacks. The US President recently held a two-hour phone call with Putin during which Russia reiterated its refusal for a full ceasefire in the war in Ukraine while the US failed to respond with any significant pressure.
Trump also suggested that new sanctions on Moscow could be on the table, saying: “I’ve always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people. We’re in the middle of talking and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don’t like it at all.”
In a separate Truth Social post, Trump wrote that Putin has gone “absolutely crazy” and warned that if he didn’t stop his actions, it could bring about the collapse of Russia.
**US and Ukraine at Odds**
The US President’s comments have sparked a new row with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who earlier condemned the lack of response from the US and other nations following Russia’s latest missile and drone assault. Zelensky called for stronger sanctions on Russia and accused America’s silence of encouraging Putin.
In his Truth Social post, Trump shifted his attention to Zelensky, whom he has frequently criticized. Trump wrote: “Likewise, President Zelenskyy is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does. Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop.”
Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, earlier reacted to Russia’s attack on May 25, calling for an end to hostilities and saying that the indiscriminate killing of women and children at night in their homes is a clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols.
**Republican Calls for Action**
Meanwhile, Republican Don Bacon said “peace talks are having zero effect on Putin” and called for stronger action against Russia. Bacon wrote: “His goal is to dominate Ukraine & he won’t stop until he realizes he cannot win.”
The US and allies must arm Ukraine to the teeth, sanction Russia to the max, and confiscate the $300B in overseas Russian assets,” Bacon said.
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