Russia has rebuked President Donald Trump’s characterization of Vladimir Putin as “absolutely crazy,” attributing the U.S. leader’s remarks to “emotional overload” following one of Russia’s most extensive aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged U.S. involvement in facilitating peace negotiations but suggested that heightened emotions were influencing public statements.
“We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organising and launching this negotiation process,” Peskov said. “At the same time, this is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overload of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions.”
Speaking to reporters at an airport in New Jersey on Sunday, Trump sharply criticised Putin’s conduct. “I’m not happy with what Putin’s doing. He’s killing a lot of people. I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin, 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. We’re in the middle of talking, and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities, I don’t like it at all. I’m very surprised.”
When asked about possible next steps, he replied: “We’ll see what we’re going to do.”
Trump reiterated his remarks later in a post on Truth Social: “[Putin] has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers.”
“I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia,” he said.
He also criticised Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying: “Likewise, President Zelensky 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.”
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On Monday morning, Zelensky said that Russia had launched 355 drones to attack regions spanning from Chernihiv to Khmelnytskyi. Nine cruise missiles were also used by Russia’s military, marking the third night of attack by drones and missiles.
“Like any criminal, Russia can only be constrained by force. Only through strength — the strength of the United States, of Europe, of all nations that value life — can these attacks be stopped and real peace achieved,” Zelensky said.
He also called for an increase in sanctions against Russia: “Russia must end its war. And for that to happen, we must deprive them of the resources that fuel their will to fight.”
A day earlier, the Ukrainian leader criticised America for its “silence,” saying Russia’s actions “cannot be ignored.”
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed similar sentiment, saying he hoped that Trump’s anger towards Putin “translates into action,” when asked by reporters.
Zelensky is expected to visit Berlin on Wednesday and meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, though the meeting has not been publicly confirmed. Merz has been a strong ally to the country, travelling to Kyiv earlier in May to commit to sanctioning Russia with new measures if it did not enter a ceasefire agreement within 30 days.
Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also condemned Russia’s recent actions, stating: “During the day Putin talks about negotiations, then he bombs Ukraine during the night,” she told reporters during a meeting of Nordic leaders, Reuters reports.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed 95 Ukrainian drones.
Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, later took to X and called for an immediate cease-fire.
“This is Kyiv. The indiscriminate killing of women and children at night in their homes is a clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols designed to protect innocents. These attacks are shameful. Stop the killing. Cease-fire now,” he said.
Each country agreed to release 1,000 prisoners of war—the largest swap of the war so far—during peace talks between Russia and Ukraine delegates in Turkey on Friday, May 16. The countries’ respective leaders were notably absent from the talks, after Putin rejected Zelensky’s offer for an in-person sit-down and did not accompany the Russian delegation to Turkey.
Trump announced on May 19 that ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine would begin immediately, following what he described as an “excellent” two-hour phone call with Putin. As planned, Trump went on to call Zelensky and other European leaders.
After speaking with Trump, Zelensky said on social media that it was “a defining moment.”
Zelensky’s latest remarks come amid ongoing tensions between U.S. and Ukrainian leadership. On Feb. 28, Zelensky and Trump engaged in a heated discussion in the Oval Office, which was filmed for the world to see. The pair clashed when discussing efforts for a Russia-Ukraine cease-fire.
The two have since moved forward and have held productive talks, most notably when they sat down together ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican on April 26, sharing their first face-to-face conversation since the White House debacle. Following that conversation in Rome, Zelensky took to social media and expressed hope for future talks and relations.
