Trump Warns Putin He's 'Playing with Fire'

 

Trump Warns Putin He's 'Playing with Fire' After Escalating Drone Attacks on Ukraine

President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he is “playing with fire,” following one of the largest Russian drone assaults on Ukraine since the beginning of the war in 2022.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “What Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia—and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire.”

The remarks came after Moscow launched a massive airstrike over the weekend that killed at least 12 people and injured many more. Trump, who has previously claimed he could resolve the war within 24 hours of returning to office, appears increasingly frustrated with the Russian leader’s refusal to engage in meaningful ceasefire talks.

While Trump has often touted his past rapport with Putin, he now appears openly critical of the Kremlin’s actions. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said, “I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin. I’ve known him a long time. Always gotten along with him. But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people—and I don’t like it at all. We’re in the middle of talking and he’s launching missiles into Kyiv and other cities.”

He added, “Putin has gone absolutely CRAZY.”

In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed Trump’s comments, attributing them to heightened emotions. “This is a very crucial moment, associated with emotional overstrain for everyone involved,” Peskov said Sunday.

Despite his previous attempts to facilitate peace talks, Trump now says he is “absolutely” considering stronger sanctions on Russia if it continues to ignore diplomatic overtures. His Tuesday post on Truth Social emphasized that Moscow’s recent actions defy the ongoing peace process and risk deepening the conflict.

This latest escalation follows Russia’s refusal to attend proposed peace negotiations at the Vatican—a plan that had received backing from both the United States and Ukraine.

Reactions to the Crisis

On Sunday, Trump reiterated on Truth Social:

“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY! 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. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it. If he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!”

Kremlin spokesman Peskov acknowledged U.S. involvement in peace efforts, saying Monday:

“We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organizing and launching this negotiation process… but this is a very emotional time for all parties.”

Keith Kellogg, U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, told Fox News on Tuesday:

“We would have liked to hold talks at the Vatican, and we were ready for that. But the Russians weren’t willing. Geneva may now be the next option.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X (formerly Twitter) to express outrage:

“Only a sense of total impunity can allow Russia to carry out such strikes and continue increasing their scale. The increase in Russian strikes should be met with increased sanctions. Russia’s disregard for diplomacy and refusal even to consider a ceasefire must be met with a freeze on Russian finances and a halt to its oil trade.”

Despite the rising tensions, Trump maintains that negotiations between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia are expected to resume soon—though it remains unclear under what conditions Moscow will return to the table.