US President Donald Trump has voiced strong disapproval of Russia’s latest assault on Ukraine, following a weekend barrage of missiles and drones that marked the largest aerial attack of the war so far.
Speaking to reporters in Morristown, New Jersey, on Sunday before returning to Washington, Trump criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin in unusually direct terms.
“I’m not happy with Putin,” Trump said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him? Right? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that.”
Trump’s remarks came hours after Russia launched an overnight wave of 367 drones and missiles at major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. The attack left at least 12 civilians dead and injured dozens more, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The former president, who has repeatedly positioned himself as a potential peace broker in the three-year-old war, revealed he had spoken with Putin for more than two hours the previous week in a bid to encourage a ceasefire. While the details of their conversation remain unclear, Trump indicated that further sanctions on Moscow could be on the table if the violence continues.
“Always gotten along with him,” Trump noted, “but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”
The statement signals a noticeable shift in tone from Trump, who has often been criticised for his past praise of Putin and his approach to US-Russia relations.
Melissa Enoch
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