In a rare departure from his usual rhetoric, former U.S. President Donald Trump recently referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as “CRAZY!” But despite the sharp words for the Kremlin leader, Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of “making things harder” amid ongoing efforts by the U.S. and Ukraine to navigate a complex path toward peace in the region.
On Monday, Zelenskyy responded to the escalating violence by emphasizing the need for increased international pressure on Moscow. “Only a sense of total impunity can allow Russia to carry out such strikes and continue increasing their scale,” he said. “There is no real military logic to this, but there is significant political meaning. In doing this, Putin shows just how much he despises the world — a world that focuses on dialogue with him more than applying real pressure.”
The Ukrainian president insisted that Russia can only be deterred by force. “Like any criminal, Russia can only be constrained by strength — strength from the United States, from Europe, from all nations that value life. This is the only way to stop these attacks and achieve real peace,” Zelenskyy asserted.
Earlier this month, Trump declined to support new sanctions on Russia, suggesting it could hinder potential progress toward ending the ongoing conflict. He has previously stated that he has offered Putin multiple opportunities to bring an end to what he has called a “bloodbath.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to endure relentless violence. Over the weekend, the Russian military launched strikes across 13 Ukrainian regions, destroying over 80 homes and sparking at least 27 fires. According to Ukrainian officials, 12 people were killed, including three children from a single family in the Zhytomyr region, and more than 70 others were injured.
Ukraine’s air force reported that most drones and missiles were intercepted by air defense systems, but several did reach their targets with devastating consequences.
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