According to foreign media reports, Trump told reporters last Sunday that despite his efforts to promote a ceasefire, Russian President Putin intensified the bombing of Ukrainian cities, which surprised him 'very much.' 'I am unhappy with what Putin is doing. He has killed many people, I don’t know what is wrong with Putin,' Trump said at an airport in New Jersey. 'I have known him for a long time and have always gotten along with him, but he is firing on cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.'
Trump said: "We are talking, and he is firing rockets at Kyiv and other cities. I don't like it at all. I am very surprised. I am extremely surprised."
When a reporter asked him how he plans to respond to Russia's new round of attacks on Ukraine, Trump said, 'I'
We will see what we are going to do.
"I don't like what Putin is doing, not at all he is killing people," Trump added. "This guy is out of control, I don't like it."
A reporter pressed him on whether he is seriously considering 'imposing more sanctions on Russia.' Trump responded, 'Of course. He has killed many people. What is wrong with him?'
This comment was made a month after Trump rarely criticized Putin on social media. In April, Trump posted on his own 'Truth Social' platform: 'I am unhappy with Russia's attack on Kyiv. There is no need for it, and the timing is wrong. Vladimir, stop! Let's finalize a peace agreement!'
During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed that he could potentially end this conflict even before he took office.
Trump reportedly stated on 'Truth Social' Monday that, 'I have always had a good relationship with Russian President Putin, but something has happened recently. He has gone completely crazy! He is mindlessly killing a large number of innocent civilians, and I don't just mean soldiers.'
Ukrainian cities are constantly being attacked by missiles and drones for no reason. I have always believed he wants to occupy all of Ukraine, not just a part of it, and maybe I am proven right, but if he really does, it will lead to the collapse of Russia.
Similarly, Zelensky's words and actions have not benefited Ukraine; his statements only provoke more problems. I don't like the situation, and it's best to stop. If I (at that time) were president, this war would absolutely not have happened. This is Zelensky's, Putin's, and Biden's war, not 'Trump's war'; I am just trying to extinguish those huge and ugly flames caused by severe incompetence and hatred.
"Despite the U.S. president talking about the possibility of reaching a peace agreement, last week he even spoke with Putin for two hours on the phone, yet Russia launched its largest airstrike to date on Sunday night. Ukrainian President Zelensky called for more support from allies, and reportedly three children died in the latest bombing.
Zelensky stated that Ukraine is ready to sign a ceasefire agreement and hinted that Russia is not serious about signing it. After the latest attack on Kyiv, he urged the U.S. and others to increase pressure on Putin, stating that silence 'only encourages' Putin.
Trump's envoy Kellogg later called for a ceasefire, labeling Russia's attacks as 'shameful.' Despite Russia and Ukraine completing the exchange of 1,000 prisoners over the past three days, violence continues to escalate.
