Trump Slams Putin’s “Needless Killing,” Warns It Could Lead to Russia’s Downfall

Former President Donald Trump has strongly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin following one of the deadliest overnight assaults on Ukraine since the war began nearly three years ago.

On Saturday, May 24, Russia launched a massive aerial assault involving 298 drones and 69 cruise and ballistic missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The strike reportedly injured dozens and killed at least 12 civilians, including three children. The BBC noted that the 367 total projectiles marked the highest number fired in a single night since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

Trump responded with a fiery message on his Truth Social platform on May 26, calling Putin “CRAZY” and blaming him for senseless violence.

“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump wrote.
“He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.”

Trump warned that if Putin continues this aggression, it could spell disaster for Russia.

“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!”

But Trump didn’t stop there. He also took aim at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Likewise, President Zelenskyy 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.”

Positioning himself as the potential peacemaker, Trump reiterated his frequent claim that the war would never have happened if he were still in the White House.

“This is Zelenskyy’s, Putin’s, and Biden’s war — not Trump’s,” he declared. “I am only helping to put out the big and ugly fires that have been started through gross incompetence and hatred.”

Keith Kellogg, Trump’s former national security advisor and special envoy for Ukraine, also spoke out. Posting on social media, he shared a striking photo of Kyiv during the nighttime attack with the caption:

“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. Ceasefire now.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has expressed frustration with the U.S., accusing Washington of staying “silent” despite repeated threats of sanctions against Russia.

“The world may go on vacation, but the war continues,” Zelenskyy said. “America’s silence, and the silence of others in the world, only encourages Putin.”

In response, Trump said during a press event in New Jersey late Saturday that he is “absolutely” considering sanctions on Russia if re-elected.