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U.S. President Donald Trump clenches his fist as he disembarks from Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on May 25, after spending the weekend in New Jersey. / Source: AFP-Yonhap News

U.S. President Donald Trump on May 26 condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching the largest aerial assault of the war against Ukraine, declaring, “He’s gone completely crazy,” and signaling the possibility of new sanctions against Moscow.

Speaking through a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin, but something has happened to him. He’s gone completely crazy.” Trump also claimed he had long predicted that Putin “wanted all of Ukraine, not just a piece of it,” and warned that if that proves true, it will “lead to Russia’s downfall.”

The president also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, writing, “Everything that comes out of his mouth causes problems. I don’t like it, and it better stop.”

Later, speaking to reporters at Morristown Airport in New Jersey, Trump reiterated his concern: “I don’t know what happened to Putin. What the hell happened to him? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m really unhappy about that.”

Trump suggested that additional sanctions against Russia are on the table in response to the intensifying attacks. As of now, there has been no official reaction from either the Kremlin or the Zelenskyy administration regarding Trump’s remarks.

According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia launched at least 367 drones and missiles overnight on May 25, targeting cities and critical infrastructure. Reuters reported that the assault was the largest in scale since the war began, measured by the number of weapons used. At least 12 people, including three children, were killed in northern Zhytomyr region alone.

Trump, who has long promised to end the war if reelected, has been attempting to pressure both sides into negotiations, but the conflict shows no signs of abating. While major powers continue to seek a diplomatic resolution, Russian forces have resumed offensives in eastern Ukraine, further escalating the war.