U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of “playing with fire” amid ongoing Russian military actions in Ukraine.
According to Yahoo News, in a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned, “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!” This statement marks a significant shift from Trump’s previously amicable rhetoric toward Putin, reflecting growing frustration with stalled peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump’s remarks follow a deadly weekend of Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, which killed at least 13 people and targeted over 30 locations, including Kyiv.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump expressed surprise and disapproval, stating, “We’re in the middle of talking, and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities.
I don’t like it at all. And I’m surprised. I’m very surprised.” He also described Putin as “absolutely crazy” for his actions, a stark departure from his earlier comments about maintaining a “very good relationship” with the Russian leader.
The escalation in Trump’s rhetoric comes as his administration seeks to broker a peace deal to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a key promise from his 2024 presidential campaign.
Despite a recent phone call between Trump and Putin, where the Russian leader reportedly agreed to initiate ceasefire talks, Russia’s continued aggression has hindered progress.
Trump’s frustration was evident when he suggested that new sanctions on Moscow could be imminent, stating on Sunday that he was “absolutely” considering increasing punitive measures.
This shift in tone contrasts with Trump’s earlier approach, where he often spoke of Putin with admiration and avoided direct criticism.
The Kremlin, through spokesman Dmitry Peskov, acknowledged Trump’s role in facilitating negotiations, expressing gratitude for U.S. assistance in the process.
However, Russia’s persistent attacks have strained diplomatic efforts, prompting Trump to warn that Putin’s actions could “lead to the downfall of Russia.”
The situation remains fluid, with Trump balancing his mediator role against mounting pressure to address Russia’s aggression.
As peace talks falter, the international community watches closely to see whether Trump’s administration will follow through on threats of new sanctions or pursue other measures to influence Putin’s course of action.
