In an unexpected turn of public opinion, former President Donald Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest military actions in Ukraine. Speaking at Morristown Airport after departing his Bedminster golf club on Sunday, Trump openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation unfolding in Eastern Europe.
"Yeah, I'll give you an update. I'm not happy with what Putin's doing," Trump stated emphatically. "He's killing a lot of people, and I don't know what the hell happened to Putin." This marks a significant shift in tone from Trump, who has often been seen as having a conciliatory approach towards the Russian leader. Trump has claimed to have known Putin for a considerable time, noting that they usually maintained a cordial relationship. "I've known him a lot time. Always gotten along with him," he said. However, the recent escalation by the Kremlin seems to have changed Trump's stance.
The former President's remarks come in the wake of ongoing peace talks that have been marred by violence. "We're in the middle of talking and he's shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don't like it at all," Trump added, indicating a serious concern over the civilian casualties and the damage being inflicted upon Ukrainian cities.
Trump also revealed that he is "absolutely" considering imposing additional sanctions on Russia in response to Putin's actions, as reported by the Daily Mail. This potential policy shift signals an acknowledgment of the gravity of the Russian offensive and its implications for international norms and stability.
Despite the peace efforts, over the weekend, Russia carried out one of its largest drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, with Ukraine's air force reporting 69 ballistic and cruise missiles and 298 attack drones fired by Russia. Approximately two-thirds were intercepted by Ukrainian defenses, but the onslaught resulted in at least 13 deaths and 57 injuries, according to Ukrainian officials.
In a separate development, Trump lauded the completion of a major prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, hinting at the possibility of further negotiations. "A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine," Trump announced. "It will go into effect shortly. Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???" he optimistically added.
The mixed messages from Trump reveal the complexity of the situation in Ukraine. On one hand, he advocates for peace through negotiations and celebrates diplomatic achievements, while on the other, he condemns the brutal military campaign carried out by a leader he once claimed to get along with.
