Trump’s Fury at Putin’s “Madness” After Ukraine Onslaught: Will the U.S. President Back Up His Threats or Walk Away?
The Largest Aerial Barrage Yet
On a muggy Sunday night, as most of America was winding down for Memorial Day, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social with a message that was as blunt as it was unexpected: “Putin has gone absolutely CRAZY!” The outburst came in the wake of Russia’s largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began, a barrage of 367 drones and missiles that rained down on cities across the country, including Kyiv. At least a dozen people were killed, dozens more injured, and the world was left to wonder: What comes next when the U.S. president calls the Russian leader “crazy” and threatens retaliation, but also hints he might simply walk away?
Trump’s Calculated Outrage
I’ve covered Trump’s foreign policy for years, and I can say this: when he’s angry, he wants the world to know. But this time, the anger felt different—less like a negotiating tactic, more like genuine exasperation. “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump wrote, echoing a sentiment that’s been quietly building in Washington and European capitals alike. The president’s post was not just a personal rebuke; it was a signal to allies and adversaries that the U.S. might be recalibrating its approach to the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s Response: “Emotional Overload”
Predictably, the Kremlin was quick to dismiss Trump’s remarks as “emotional overload.” Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, told reporters that Trump’s comments were “connected to an emotional overload of everyone involved” and thanked the U.S. for its help in launching peace negotiations. It was a classic Russian move: downplay the insult, highlight the diplomacy, and try to keep the Americans talking. But beneath the surface, there’s real anxiety in Moscow about what Trump’s next move might be, especially as European leaders like Germany’s Friedrich Merz drop restrictions on the range of weapons sent to Ukraine, allowing Kyiv to strike deeper into Russian territory than ever before.
A President’s Threats—And His Doubts
Trump’s threats were unmistakable. He warned that if Putin tries to conquer all of Ukraine, it will “lead to the downfall of Russia!” He floated the possibility of new, harsher sanctions. Yet, in the same breath, he criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying he was “doing his country no favors by talking the way he does.” It’s a familiar Trumpian pattern: praise, scold, threaten, and then leave the door open for a deal—or an exit.
This ambiguity is not lost on America’s allies. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking from Vietnam, said he hoped Trump’s anger would “translate into action,” while Germany’s Merz warned that Putin sees offers of talks as weakness. The European Union, meanwhile, is preparing more sanctions, but the U.S. position remains in flux.
The Reality on the Ground
For Ukrainians, the latest Russian attacks were a grim reminder that the war is far from over. In Mykolaiv, I spoke to a local journalist who described rescuers pulling survivors from the rubble of apartment blocks, the air thick with dust and the sound of drones still buzzing overhead. “We’re used to the sirens, but this was different,” she told me. “It felt like the world was watching, but no one was coming to help.”
The Ukrainian air force called it the largest drone attack yet, with 355 drones launched in a single night. The scale of the assault seemed designed to send a message—not just to Kyiv, but to Washington and Brussels as well. And as the front lines remain largely static, with Russia still controlling about 20% of Ukrainian territory, the prospect of a negotiated peace feels as distant as ever.
The Ceasefire Mirage
Trump has repeatedly touted his efforts to broker a ceasefire, even after a two-hour phone call with Putin earlier this month. Yet, while Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, Russia has only offered vague promises of a “memorandum” on a possible future peace. The only tangible progress has been a major prisoner swap—1,000 detainees exchanged in Istanbul—but the fighting continues, and the diplomatic process is stalled.
Will Trump Walk Away?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Trump’s threats of retaliation are real, but so is his willingness to walk away if he doesn’t get the deal he wants. The president has made it clear that if peace talks don’t yield results, the U.S. could simply step back, leaving Europe to manage the crisis on its own. For Ukraine, that’s a terrifying prospect. For Russia, it’s a gamble. And for the rest of us, it’s a reminder that in this new era of great-power politics, nothing is certain—not even America’s commitment to its own red lines.
A Final Thought
Watching Trump’s press conference from New Jersey, I was struck by the sense of fatigue in his voice. “He’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all,” he said of Putin. It was a rare moment of candor from a president who usually prefers bravado. The world is watching to see if that candor turns into action—or if, once again, the U.S. president simply walks away.