Trump Calls Putin “Absolutely CRAZY” After Russia Launches Record 355 Drones Against Ukraine

US President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY” following Russia’s largest aerial attack on Ukraine since the war began.

The comments came after Moscow launched a record-breaking drone assault on Ukrainian cities.

Trump posted his remarks on Truth Social on 26 May as Ukrainians endured a third consecutive night of Russian aerial attacks. Citizens listened for hours to drones buzzing near their homes and explosions from Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported Russia launched 355 drones and nine cruise missiles against Ukraine between the evening of 25 May and morning of 26 May. The air force spokesman told Reuters this represented Russia’s largest drone attack of the war to date.

“Something has happened to him (Putin). He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to the Russian President’s latest attack.

Trump Weighs New Russia Sanctions After Massive Drone Strike

Trump expressed his displeasure with Putin’s actions during a press appearance at Morristown airport in New Jersey.

“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,” he told reporters.

The US President raised the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia in response to the ongoing attacks. When asked by reporters about potential sanctions on Russia, he replied “Absolutely.”

“I’ve known him a long time, always got along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” Trump said.

Trump stated he always believed Putin “wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it” and warned that pursuing this goal “will lead to the downfall of Russia.”

The attacks targeted multiple Ukrainian regions. The western region of Khmelnytskyi, home to a military airbase, was hit by seven cruise missiles and scores of drones. Residential buildings and industrial facilities sustained damage.

A 14-year-old boy was injured in the Black Sea region of Odesa. Russian forces also struck Ukraine’s Starokostiantyniv airbase in Khmelnytskyi region, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.

Russia pummelled Ukrainian cities with at least 367 drones and missiles overnight on 25 May, killing at least 12 people.

Three children died in the northern region of Zhytomyr, Ukrainian officials confirmed.

Trump Criticises Zelensky While Putin Talks Stall

Trump also directed criticism at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his Truth Social post. He accused the Ukrainian leader of “doing his Country no favours by talking the way he does.”

“Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop,” Trump wrote. He labelled the conflict “Zelensky’s, Putin’s, and Biden’s War, not Trump’s.”

Trump claimed the war “would never have started if I were President.”

Zelensky did not directly address Trump’s criticism but posted on X that the world appeared to spend more effort on dialogue with Putin than applying real pressure on the Kremlin chief. He called again for additional sanctions on Russia, stating Russia “can be constrained only by force.”

The Kremlin responded to Trump’s “crazy” comments through spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He thanked the US people and Trump for assistance in launching peace negotiations but suggested emotional overload might explain the remarks.

“This is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overload of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions,” Peskov said.

Peskov claimed the attacks on Ukraine targeted military facilities and were responses to significant Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian targets.

On 19 May, Trump told reporters Russia and Ukraine would start negotiating towards a ceasefire “immediately” after a two-hour phone call with Putin. He said no further sanctions would be imposed against Russia “because there’s a chance” of progress towards a ceasefire.

However, ceasefire talks have yet to begin.

European leaders have expressed disappointment at their inability to convince Trump to impose major new sanctions on Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron said he hoped Trump’s anger towards Putin would result in new sanctions that could dissuade further Russian action.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Western allies will no longer impose range limits on arms delivered to Ukraine following the attacks. Merz and Zelensky are scheduled to meet in Berlin on 28 May to discuss possible ceasefire steps and new sanctions against Russia.

Russia’s defence ministry reported intercepting 96 Ukrainian drones on the night of 25 May, with governors confirming no casualties or damage occurred.