...
By Isabel van Brugen
News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Kremlin shrugged off U.S. President Donald Trump's public criticism of Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a case of "emotional overstrain."
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the comments after Trump said on Truth Social on Sunday that Putin had gone "absolutely CRAZY!" and was "needlessly killing a lot of people" in the war.
It marked a dramatic shift in tone just a week after President Trump described a phone call with his Russian counterpart as having gone "very well."
Read More
Zelensky Speaks Out After Trump Blasts ‘CRAZY!’ Putin5 min read
Kremlin Reacts to Report Trump Told Allies Putin Is ‘Winning’4 min read
Russia Forced to Close Airspace, Shut Down Internet Amid Drone Raids3 min read
"We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organizing and launching this negotiation process," Peskov told reporters on Monday.
"Of course, at the same time, this is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overstrain of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday called for more oil sanctions on Russia, telling the United States and Europe, "Russia can only be constrained by force."
Why It Matters
The Kremlin's choice of words appeared to downplay Trump's criticism of the Russian president. The relationship between Russia and U.S. had become severely strained due to Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but relations thawed since Trump was sworn into office in January and pushed for a ceasefire and end to the war.
What To Know
Trump lashed out after Russia bombarded Ukraine with missiles and drones over the weekend—something Putin's military has been doing since the onset of the war more than three years ago—in one of the biggest attacks yet.
Trump suggested "something has happened" to Putin to make him "needlessly" kill a lot of people. "And I'm not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever," Trump wrote.
He also said of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that, "Everything out of his mouth causes problems."
Trump would not be drawn into discussing action he might take, when asked by reporters on Sunday.
...
Peskov said Trump's remarks were likely "connected with the importance of the negotiation process" in the war between Russia and Ukraine, Tass reported Monday.
Trump, who was inaugurated on January 20, had campaigned on a promise to end the war within 24 hours of his return to power.
The American and Russian leaders spoke by phone last week, after which European officials accused the U.S. president of handing Putin a "win" by hinting that Washington would back out of diplomatic negotiations. Trump also refused to impose fresh sanctions on Russia to ramp up pressure on Putin to take negotiations seriously.
The call fell short of expectations, dashing hopes that it would represent a major turning point in Trump's pledge to broker peace.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social on Sunday: "I've 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, and I'm not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.
"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!
"Likewise, President Zelenskyy is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does. Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don't like it, and it better stop.
"This is a War that would never have started if I were President. This is Zelenskyy's, Putin's, and Biden's War, not "Trump's," I am only helping to put out the big and ugly fires, that have been started through Gross Incompetence and Hatred."
Trump also told reporters on Sunday: "I'm not happy with what Putin's doing. He's killing a lot of people and I don't know what the hell happened to Putin, I've known him a long time. Always gotten along with him. But he's sending rockets into cities and killing people and I don't like it at all. We're in the middle of talking and he's tuning rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don't like it at all."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday: "We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organizing and launching this negotiation process.
"Of course, at the same time, this is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overstrain of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday: "Only a sense of total impunity can allow Russia to carry out such strikes and continue increasing their scale. 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 — the world that spends more effort on "dialogue" with him than on real pressure.
"Like any criminal, Russia can only be constrained by force. Only through strength — the strength of the United States, of Europe, of all nations that value life — can these attacks be stopped and real peace achieved.
"The increase in Russian strikes should be met with increased sanctions. Russia's disregard for diplomacy and refusal even to consider a ceasefire must be met with a freeze on Russian finances and a halt to its oil trade."
What Happens Next
Direct Russia-Ukraine talks are to resume, Trump has said. But Peskov has said coming to an agreement on peace with Ukraine is likely to be a painstaking and long process.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines