(Zero Hedge)—Moscow has responded Monday to President Trump’s latest fierce criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, cautioning of “emotional overload” at this “very important moment.”
“We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organizing and launching this negotiation process,” began Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov when asked about Trump’s late Sunday remarks.
“Of course, at the same time, this is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overload of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions,” Peskov said. Other translations used “emotional overstrain”.
There’s been a noticeable frustration and impatience coming from the White House at the lack of progress toward peace. At first more of the pressure seemed to be on Zelensky and the Ukrainian side, but recent weeks have seem Trump’s rhetoric shift to more pressure on Putin and the Kremlin.
“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 on Truth Social on Sunday night.
The below full statement is mainly aimed at Putin, but Trump has notably taken swipes at both sides over the weekend, as pointed out by the WSJ correspondent…
“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.”
Trump blasts CRAZY Putin for killing innocents — and immediately blasts Zelensky for talking in a way he doesn’t like. https://t.co/Cwvs4WBg41 pic.twitter.com/dy47gjnUDs
— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) May 26, 2025
Earlier on Sunday President Trump had told reporters aboard Air Force One that he is not “happy” with the Russian leader. “I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin,” Trump said.
Russia has clearly ramped up attacks over prior consecutive nights. Last night it hit Ukraine with another record number of drones along with nine cruise missiles, according to The Associated Press. However, no deaths were immediately confirmed and an emergency response continued in Monday.
But Trump had caveated in his remarks Sunday, “Likewise, President Zelenskyy is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does.“
We detailed previously how Russia’s current stepped-up attacks are the result of drone waves from Ukraine which are unprecedented in size and intensity over the past week:
Trump says Putin has gone crazy and threatens to walk away from Ukraine peace talks. What he ISN’T saying is that the Ukrainians launched a massive drone attack on Russia on May 20 – targeting Putin’s helicopter during a visit to Kursk – using US intel. pic.twitter.com/GxlmtYZTF5
— Sharmine Narwani (@snarwani) May 26, 2025
All of this is likely calculated to press the Kremlin to get serious about negotiations. But as Trump has long admitted, Putin holds all the cards, and more villages in the Donbass were taken by Russian forces this weekend.
As for what “happened” to Putin… the reality is that nothing has changed, and like it or not this is how powerful world leaders wage war in the 21st century.
Putin has been true to his KGB roots and his Moscow mayor days. His desire is to re-unite by force, the USSR. His goal has been well advertised, and he continues to pursue it, regardless of the the regime or political climate he faces. Like a bulldog, he has latched on to this, and he will not let go. Understand that. Words do not matter with this man. Only action. He will lie if it suits him. He is not complicated. He is misunderstood… especially by those who want him to change his ways. Bulldogs, once they latch on to something, never let go.
Trump is an idiot, an old NYC democratic still shooting his mouth off. I read Trumps comments and thought at the time “what is wrong with this clown”, its Okay for Usula, Macron and Starmer to have their proxy fire off ballistic missiles into Russia’s heartland but its not Okay for Putin to return the favor. Trump needs to open his mouth a lot less and listen more. Somebody with a backbone in the admin needs to sit the phat orange man down in a chair every morning and force the Intel Reports down his phat face.