Former President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that Putin's ambition to seize all of Ukraine "will lead to the downfall of Russia."
Trump, speaking from New Jersey, described Putin as having "gone absolutely CRAZY" and condemned the recent deadly drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, which marked the largest such assault since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
"I've known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he's sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don't like it at all," Trump said.
Despite his criticism, Trump also took aim at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of harming his own country by his rhetoric. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Zelensky was "doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does," following Zelensky's earlier comments that silence from the U.S. and other nations only emboldens Putin.
Trump hinted at the possibility of increasing U.S. sanctions on Russia, a move he has threatened before but not yet implemented. He also claimed that without his involvement, "lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia," though he did not specify what those were.
The recent escalation in attacks has prompted calls from other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, for "much more massive sanctions" against Russia to end the conflict. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government has removed range restrictions on arms supplied to Ukraine.
Trump's comments reflect a complex stance: rebuking Putin's aggression while simultaneously criticizing Ukraine's leadership and signaling a cautious approach to further U.S. involvement.
"What Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire!" Trump posted.
This latest exchange underscores the ongoing tensions and divergent perspectives surrounding the war in Ukraine and the international response to Russia's invasion.
Sources: 
Former President Donald Trump warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambition to control all of Ukraine could lead to Russia's downfall, calling Putin 'crazy' after deadly drone attacks. Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Zelensky and hinted at possible new U.S. sanctions on Russia.
