Washington:
US President Donald Trump on Sunday known as his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, “loopy” for launching one of many largest airstrikes on Ukraine because the begin of the battle. He additionally warned Moscow that any try at a complete takeover of Ukraine would “result in the downfall of Russia.”
“I’ve all the time had an excellent relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, however one thing has occurred to him. He has gone completely CRAZY! He’s needlessly killing lots of people, and I am not simply speaking about troopers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no purpose in anyway,” Trump mentioned in a publish on Fact Social.
“I’ve all the time mentioned that he needs ALL of Ukraine, not only a piece of it, and perhaps that is proving to be proper, but when he does, it’ll result in the downfall of Russia!” he added.
Trump has expressed admiration for Putin prior to now, however has in latest weeks proven rising frustration with Moscow’s place in truce negotiations with Kyiv, that are deadlocked. Earlier, the American chief additionally issued a uncommon rebuke to Putin, saying he was “not comfortable” with him after Moscow launched a document variety of drones in opposition to Ukraine, killing 13 folks throughout the nation.
“I am not proud of what Putin is doing. He is killing lots of people, and I do not know what the hell occurred to Putin,” mentioned Trump on the tarmac at Morristown airport earlier than boarding Air Pressure One certain for Washington.
“I’ve recognized him a very long time, all the time gotten together with him, however he is sending rockets into cities and killing folks, and I do not prefer it in any respect.”
Trump Slams Zelensky
The US chief additionally blasted his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, for “speaking the best way he does.”
“Every little thing out of his mouth causes issues, I do not prefer it, and it higher cease,” he mentioned.
Trump reiterated his declare that the battle between Russia and Ukraine would by no means have began if he have been the President of the USA on the time.
“This can be a Warfare that may by no means have began if I have been President. That is Zelenskyy’s, Putin’s, and Biden’s Warfare, not “Trump’s,” I’m solely serving to to place out the massive and ugly fires, which have been began by Gross Incompetence and Hatred,” he added.
Russia Intensifies Assaults On Ukraine
Russia’s assaults on Ukraine got here as the 2 nations accomplished their largest prisoner swap since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with 1,000 captured troopers and civilian prisoners despatched again by either side. These killed within the newest Russian strikes included two youngsters, aged eight and 12, and a 17-year-old, killed within the northwestern area of Zhytomyr, officers mentioned.
“With out actually sturdy stress on the Russian management, this brutality can’t be stopped,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on social media.
Responding to a query on the tarmac in Morristown, Trump mentioned he was “completely” contemplating rising US sanctions on Russia in response to the most recent violence.
“He is killing lots of people. I do not know what’s fallacious with him. What the hell occurred to him, proper? He is killing lots of people. I am not comfortable about that,” mentioned the US chief.
That assertion was at odds with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s testimony at Congress earlier this week, when he mentioned Trump believed that “proper now, should you begin threatening sanctions, the Russians will cease speaking.”
Trump and Putin held a two-hour cellphone name on Monday, after which the US chief mentioned Moscow and Kyiv would “instantly begin negotiations in direction of a ceasefire.”
Putin has made no dedication to pause his three-year invasion of Ukraine, saying solely a imprecise proposal to work on a “memorandum” outlining Moscow’s calls for for peace.