Donald Trump has sharply escalated his rhetoric against Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that Putin is “playing with fire” following a surge in Russian attacks on Ukraine and a breakdown in peace talks.
The U.S. president’s remarks, delivered Tuesday via his Truth Social platform, come amid mounting frustration with Moscow’s role in stalled ceasefire negotiations and a devastating Russian drone and missile assault on Kyiv that killed at least 13 people over the weekend.
“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.
“He’s playing with fire!”
The comments follow Trump’s earlier claim on Sunday that Putin has “gone absolutely CRAZY,” marking a stark shift from his historically admiring tone toward the Kremlin leader.
Sanctions on the Table
Though Trump did not specify what consequences Russia might face, reports from The Wall Street Journal and CNN suggest that the administration is weighing a fresh round of sanctions against Moscow as early as this week. On Sunday, Trump told reporters he was “absolutely” considering tightening sanctions in response to the growing violence in Ukraine.
Breakdown in Trust
The dramatic change in tone underscores the White House’s growing disillusionment with Putin, who, according to Trump, had agreed in a phone call eight days prior to “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations. Since then, Russia has only intensified its campaign, launching what Ukraine called a “record” barrage of drone strikes.
Putin’s government has defended its escalation, accusing Ukraine of targeting Russian civilians and claiming its recent attacks are retaliatory. However, the U.S. and its allies see Moscow’s actions as a major impediment to restoring peace.
Kremlin Responds
Russian officials have not taken kindly to Trump’s new stance. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council and former president, fired back on Telegram:
“The only REALLY BAD thing is World War III. The rest is political noise.”
He added that “the fate of the United States itself will be at stake” if Trump continues to threaten Russia.
The escalation in rhetoric adds a dangerous edge to an already volatile situation. Despite earlier optimism about diplomatic openings, the latest developments suggest a return to hardline posturing on both sides.
