Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing With Fire' as Russian President Declares 'Absolutely CRAZY' Behavior

Former President Donald Trump issued a pointed warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, claiming that Russia would have already faced severe consequences if not for his personal intervention. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!"

Trump, who has made ongoing efforts to position himself as a potential mediator in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, also used social media earlier this week to sharply criticize both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On Sunday, Trump wrote, "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!"

Despite emphasizing his past rapport with the Russian leader, Trump did not shy away from condemning Putin’s recent actions, suggesting they could ultimately backfire and destabilize Russia’s own future. The comments come amid escalating violence in Ukraine, as Russian forces continue to launch missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Trump’s criticism was not limited to the Kremlin. He also targeted President Zelenskyy, asserting, "Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop." The former president has frequently voiced frustration with Zelenskyy’s public appeals for increased international support and weaponry as the war persists.

Some members of Congress have responded to Trump’s remarks with mixed reactions. While certain pro-Ukraine Republicans echoed Trump's concerns about Putin's aggression and called for expanded sanctions and military support, others criticized Trump’s comments about Zelenskyy, labeling them as misguided while praising his strong statements regarding the Russian leader.

The war in Ukraine continues to intensify. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reported in a Monday post that Russian forces had launched their largest drone assault since the full-scale invasion began, deploying 355 attack UAVs—mostly Shahed drones—and firing nine cruise missiles at civilian targets overnight. Ukrainian air defense teams and emergency responders worked throughout the night to repel the attacks and assist those affected.

Zelenskyy also emphasized the necessity of a resolute international response, declaring, "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."

Efforts at brokering peace or even reducing hostilities have thus far failed to yield significant results, with both sides hardening their positions. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has dismissed Trump’s overtures as overly emotional, rejecting proposals for outside mediation. The conflict shows no signs of abating as leaders on all sides continue to exchange increasingly heated rhetoric.