The Kremlin has responded sharply to US President Donald Trump after he called Russian President Vladimir Putin “absolutely crazy” following a massive Russian aerial assault on Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Trump’s remarks were likely due to “emotional overload,” according to a BBC report.
On Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social, saying, “Something has happened to Putin. He has gone absolutely crazy. Needlessly killing a lot of people.” His comments came after Russia launched its largest aerial attack since the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Over Saturday night, Russia fired 367 drones and missiles into Ukraine, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens more.
Between Sunday night and Monday morning, Russia followed up with a drone-only attack, launching 355 drones that killed 10 people, according to Ukraine’s air force.
Russia claimed the attacks were retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian “social infrastructure.” The Russian defense ministry said it had shot down 20 Ukrainian drones over several regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the Russian attacks politically motivated, saying they served no military purpose and were aimed at continuing the war and causing destruction.
In response to the attacks, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Ukraine’s allies have lifted range restrictions on the weapons supplied to Kyiv. This would allow Ukraine to target military positions inside Russia. Reports suggest Germany is considering sending long-range Taurus missiles, which have a range of 500 kilometers. The previous German government had refused to send them.
Russia has warned that supplying Ukraine with Taurus missiles would be a “dangerous move.”
Speaking in New Jersey on Sunday, Trump said he had always gotten along with Putin but now strongly opposed his actions. “He’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” Trump said. He added that he was considering tougher US sanctions on Russia.
Trump also criticised President Zelensky, saying, “Everything out of his mouth causes problems. I don’t like it, and it better stop.”
Despite ongoing European efforts to increase sanctions on Russia, the U.S. has focused on brokering peace talks. Trump warned that if talks do not progress, the U.S. may “walk away.”
Last week, Trump and Putin had a two-hour phone call discussing a US-led ceasefire proposal. Trump said the call went “very well” and that both sides would “immediately start” talks to end the war. While Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, Putin has only said Russia will work toward a “possible future peace,” which Kyiv and its allies see as a delaying tactic.
The first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia since 2022 were held on May 16 in Istanbul. Other than a major prisoner exchange, little progress was made.
Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.