"Russian President Vladimir Putin Is Playing with Fire" – Donald Trump Warns
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning on Tuesday, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "playing with fire" — just days after he called Putin "completely crazy" in response to a wave of Russian airstrikes on Ukraine.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote:
"Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize that if I weren’t around, something very terrible — truly terrible — would have happened to Russia!"
He added, "He is playing with fire!"
Over the past weekend, Russian forces launched their largest drone assault since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 — firing 367 drones and missiles, which killed at least 12 people.
On Monday, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov announced that Russia had captured four villages in the northern Sumy region of Ukraine, effectively creating a “buffer zone” near the border.
Trump Frustrated by Stalled Peace Efforts
Trump, who has been trying for months to broker a peace deal between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is growing increasingly frustrated with both leaders’ behavior.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, he said:
“I don’t know what’s happened to Putin. I’ve known him for many years — we always had a good relationship. But now he’s launching rockets on cities, killing people — and I absolutely do not like it.”
Later, he posted again on Truth Social, stating:
“Putin has gone completely insane!”
He continued:
“Missiles and drones are being launched on Ukrainian cities without any reason. I always said, he doesn’t want just a part of Ukraine — he wants the whole country. And maybe that’s now turning out to be true. But if he does that, Russia’s collapse is inevitable!”
Trump Still Hopes for Negotiation
Despite the escalation, 78-year-old Trump still believes a deal with Putin is possible and that the Russian leader ultimately wants peace.
On May 19, Trump held back-to-back phone calls with both Zelensky and Putin regarding a potential ceasefire. Afterward, he expressed optimism, although Putin did not give direct consent to end the war.
On May 15, Trump proposed a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders in Turkey. However, Putin declined to travel. Still, representatives from both sides met in Istanbul to discuss possible terms for a ceasefire and set a date for future talks.
Russia's aggression in Ukraine is intensifying. While Trump continues to present himself as a mediator for peace talks, he has also voiced strong frustration over the growing violence. Alongside labeling Putin "crazy," Trump has warned that this path could be catastrophic for Russia.
