Topline
President Donald Trump took credit for preventing “lots of really bad things” from happening to Russia and said Russian President Vladimir Putin is “playing with fire” in a Truth Social post Tuesday morning, as he escalates recent attacks against Putin.
President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post Tuesday morning that if it weren’t for him, “lots … More
Key Facts
“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,” Trump said in the Tuesday morning post.
Trump criticized Putin on Truth Social on Sunday evening, as well, saying that while the pair has “always had a very good relationship,” Putin has “gone absolutely CRAZY!” and is “needlessly killing a lot of people.”
Trump’s criticism of Putin comes after Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks on Ukraine since the start of the war, in which more than 360 drones and missiles hit Ukraine and at least 12 people died, the Associated Press reported.
Key Background
After Russia’s large-scale attack on Ukraine on Sunday, Trump told reporters he was “absolutely” considering new sanctions on Russia, adding: “I’m not happy with what Putin is doing.” In response to Trump’s comments and Truth Social post Sunday, a spokesperson for the Kremlin said they are in “a very crucial moment, which is associated with an emotional overload for absolutely everyone,” The New York Times reported. After taking office in January, Trump—who regularly alleged the war between Russia and Ukraine never would have started if he were president—publicly bickered with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and appeared less inclined to attack Putin, though his criticisms of Putin have increased in recent weeks. Trump spoke with Putin for two hours on May 19 and said he believed the call “went very well,” adding: “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.” Putin described the call between the leaders as “quite frank” and said they need to “identify the most effective ways of moving toward peace.”
Tangent
The European Union approved expanded sanctions on Russia last week in an effort “to undermine Russia’s ability to finance and sustain its war against Ukraine.” The EU said its most recent sanctions sought to “restrict Russia’s access to battlefield technologies” and reduce its revenues by targeting “an unprecedented number of vessels” in its shadow fleet.
Surprising Fact
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Tuesday morning on X—before Trump’s Truth Social post—that he believes it’s time for the U.S. to enhance sanctions on Russia. Grassley said he believes Trump sincerely thought his friendship with Putin could end the war, but that it’s now time to implement sanctions “strong (enough) so Putin knows ‘game over.’”
Further Reading
Trump Weighs Sanctions On Russia As He Calls Putin ‘Absolutely Crazy’ (Forbes)
Russia and Ukraine complete prisoner swap hours after Moscow launches major aerial assault (Associated Press)
Trump Says Ukraine And Russia Will Negotiate Ceasefire Directly After Putin Call (Live Updates) (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2025/05/27/trump-says-putin-playing-with-fire-as-he-ratchets-up-attacks-on-russian-leader/