Donald Trump didn’t hold back his thoughts. In a fiery Truth Social post on Sunday, the U.S. President slammed Russian leader Vladimir Putin as “crazy.” This came just hours after Russia sent a massive swarm of deadly drones into Ukraine, killing at least 13 people. The post quickly sparked reactions across the globe. And many are now asking why Trump calls Putin ‘crazy’—a phrase that breaks from his usual tone toward the Russian president.
Trump’s relationship with Putin has long been a hot topic. He’s often praised him in the past. But now, something’s changed. “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin,” Trump wrote. “But something has happened. He’s gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump didn’t stop there. He warned that Putin’s obsession with taking all of Ukraine—not just part—could be Russia’s undoing.
This sudden shift from praise to rebuke has people talking. Is Trump seeing something new in Putin’s actions? Or is he setting a tougher tone ahead of the U.S. election? Either way, Trump’s words come at a tense moment.
On the ground, the damage in Ukraine is heartbreaking. Cities are burning. Families are mourning. Among the 13 killed were children as young as eight, 12, and 17. Ukraine’s emergency services described the mood in the country with one chilling word: “terror.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t hold back either. He blamed global silence for emboldening Putin and called on the world, especially the U.S., to apply real pressure. “Sanctions will help,” he urged, adding that American hesitance only feeds the violence.
In another jab, Trump also took aim at Zelensky, calling him a problem-maker. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems,” Trump said. “It better stop.”
But it’s not just Trump speaking out. Leaders across Europe are furious. Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, declared that Putin “does not want peace.” The European Union is now preparing fresh sanctions to hit Moscow harder.
In Kyiv and other cities, the scale of destruction is staggering. Ukraine’s military says they shot down 266 drones and 45 missiles overnight—nearly 300 launched in total. That’s the biggest wave they’ve ever faced. Still, it wasn’t enough to stop the losses. Fires raged through homes. Streets were left in ruins. One retired woman near Kyiv said, “The whole street was on fire.”
Russia, for its part, claims they were targeting Ukraine’s military industry. But pictures from the ground show wrecked apartments and grieving families.
Meanwhile, amid the chaos, a major prisoner swap unfolded. Russia and Ukraine exchanged 303 captives each—the biggest swap since the war began. Some Ukrainian soldiers returned home thin and bruised but smiling. One man, held for over three years, called his release indescribable.
As Russia keeps pounding Ukrainian cities, Trump’s dramatic shift in tone is impossible to ignore. It raises tough questions about the future of U.S.-Russia relations—and about why Trump calls Putin ‘crazy’ now, after years of friendly words.
The coming days could be crucial. More sanctions may be on the way. And with each new attack, pressure is mounting on global leaders to act—not just talk.
