Donald Trump has threatened Russia with more sanctions after its biggest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war and a series of deadly strikes across the country, as he said of Vladimir Putin: “What the hell happened to him?”
The Ukrainian air force said on Monday that Russia had launched 355 drones and nine cruise missiles against Ukraine overnight – “a record number of drones since the start of the full-scale invasion”.
It said it shot down hundreds of drones, but warned the country needs “more air defence systems and interceptors”, adding: “Strengthening the protection of our skies is crucial.”
The US president appeared aghast at the conduct of his counterpart in the Kremlin after drone and missile attacks in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities left 12 people dead and dozens more injured.
There were more drone strikes on the capital on Sunday night, according to the head of the city’s military administration.
Trump criticises Putin – latest updates
Speaking to reporters at an airport in New Jersey ahead of a flight back to Washington DC, Mr Trump said: “I’m not happy with Putin. I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”
“He’s killing a lot of people,” he added. “I’m not happy about that.”
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Mr Trump – who said he’s “always gotten along with” Mr Putin – told reporters he would consider more sanctions against Moscow.
“He’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” he said.
Later, on his Truth Social platform, the US president wrote that he has “always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!”
“He is needlessly killing a lot of people… I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!”
Mr Trump also criticised Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying the Ukrainian president was “doing his country no favours by talking the way he does. Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop”.
The Kremlin accused the US president of “emotional overload” – and said whatever decisions the Russian leader makes “are necessary for the security of Russia”.
It added work on Russia’s proposal for a possible peace deal with Ukraine was ongoing.
“We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organising and launching this negotiation process,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Russia’s biggest aerial bombardment of the war so far on Ukraine comes despite Mr Trump repeatedly talking up the chances of a peace agreement. He even spoke to Mr Putin on the phone for two hours last week.
Mr Peskov claimed the strikes on Ukraine struck military targets and were in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian civilian targets.
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Hundreds of drones fired at Ukraine
‘Shameful’ attacks
Mr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is ready to sign a ceasefire deal, and suggested Russia isn’t serious about signing one.
In a statement at the weekend, he urged the US and other national leaders to increase the pressure on Mr Putin, saying silence “only encourages” him.
Mr Trump’s envoy for the country, Keith Kellogg, later demanded a ceasefire, describing the Russian attacks as “shameful”.
Three children were among those killed in the attacks, explosions shaking the cities of Kyiv, Odesa, and Mykolaiv.
Ukrainian siblings Tamara, 12, Stanislav, eight, and Roman, 17, were killed in Russian airstrikes. Pic: X/@Mariana_Betsa
Before the onslaught, Russia said it had faced a Ukrainian drone attack on Sunday.
It said around 100 were intercepted and destroyed near Moscow and in central and southern regions.
The violence has escalated despite Russia and Ukraine completing the exchange of 1,000 prisoners each over the past three days.
