U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is “playing with fire,” as Washington considers a new round of sanctions over Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The warning follows Trump’s weekend outburst on social media, where he called Putin “absolutely CRAZY” after a deadly Russian drone strike killed at least 13 people in Ukraine. Trump’s remarks signal rising frustration with stalled ceasefire talks and mounting pressure to act.
“Putin doesn’t realize that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would’ve already happened to Russia — and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, without elaborating.
Sanctions loom
U.S. media outlets including The Wall Street Journal and CNN report that Trump is considering fresh sanctions on Russia, potentially as early as this week. On Sunday, he told reporters he was “absolutely” weighing such measures. The White House confirmed that “all options” remain on the table.
“President Trump wants a negotiated peace deal, but he’s also keeping all options open,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to AFP. “This war is Joe Biden’s fault.”
While Biden imposed sweeping sanctions following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Trump has so far held off on targeting Russian banks, citing fears of “devastating” global economic consequences.
Shift in tone
Trump’s recent rhetoric marks a sharp departure from his typically warm stance toward Putin. The former president had previously claimed he could end the war in 24 hours, a promise that has faltered as Russia continues attacks despite reported agreements to begin talks.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with Putin, but something has changed. He’s gone absolutely crazy,” Trump said following last weekend’s assault.
Russia, for its part, has blamed Ukraine for the diplomatic impasse. The Kremlin claimed Kyiv — with backing from European allies, was undermining talks and escalating attacks on Russian civilians.
Between May 20 and 27, Russia said its air defenses downed over 2,300 Ukrainian drones, including 33 headed toward Moscow. Ukraine denied the claims and accused Russia of targeting civilians.
Pressure mounts in Washington
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and his allies continue to press for tougher sanctions. “We need to end this eternal waiting — Russia needs more sanctions,” said Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak.
Several U.S. lawmakers echoed that call. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley urged a strong response to show Putin that it’s “game over,” while Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal called for “secondary sanctions” on countries helping Russia skirt existing restrictions.
Trump’s Ukraine envoy, retired General Keith Kellogg, said new peace talks might happen in Geneva after Moscow reportedly rejected the Vatican as a host. The goal, he said, would be to bring Trump, Putin, and Zelensky together “to hammer this thing out.”
Switzerland has not confirmed any agreement to host the talks but reiterated its willingness to facilitate negotiations.
Russia and Ukraine last met for direct talks in Istanbul in early May — their first in more than three years.
AFP
