Camilla Jessen
Following back-to-back nights of missile attacks on Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Vladimir Putin’s actions.
President Donald Trump delivered one of his strongest public rebukes yet of Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a massive wave of missile and drone attacks that left dozens dead and injured across Ukraine.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him?” Trump said to Reuters reporters at Morristown Airport on May 25.
He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that.
The comments came after two consecutive nights of large-scale Russian airstrikes, with the May 25 assault killing 13 people and injuring more than 60, including children.
Trump: “Always Gotten Along With Him, But…”
Despite previously expressing admiration for Putin, Trump acknowledged the attacks had crossed a line.
“Always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” Trump siad.
Trump also floated the possibility of new sanctions against Russia in response to the ongoing aggression.
On his social media platform Truth Social, he doubled down:
Missiles and drones are being shot into cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever… 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.
U.S. Response and Legal Concerns
Keith Kellogg, a U.S. envoy and retired general, also weighed in, calling the Russian airstrikes a “violation of international law” and condemning the targeting of civilians during nighttime hours.
Ukraine reported that 367 drones and missiles were launched on May 25 alone, with 250 fired the day before — one of the heaviest assaults of the war so far.
While sharply condemning Putin, Trump also took a swipe at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, criticizing his tone and public remarks.
“Zelenskyy is doing his country no favors by talking the way he does,” Trump wrote. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems. I don’t like it, and it better stop.”
His comment came in response to Zelenskyy’s criticism that international silence — especially from the U.S. — was “encouraging Putin.”
The Kremlin’s recent escalation included the use of Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Shahed drones, and Kalibr cruise missiles.
Ukraine’s air defense systems were activated across multiple regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro.