'I don't know what the hell happened to Putin,' says Trump as Russia unleashes 3rd consecutive attack on Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump voiced strong disapproval of Russia’s weekend bombardment of Ukraine, telling reporters that he’s “not happy with Putin.”
“He’s killing a lot of people,” Trump said to reporters at an airport in New Jersey before returning to Washington on May 25. “I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin, I’ve known him for a long time…”
Trump’s comments followed Russia’s massive air assault on Ukraine over the weekend, which saw 367 drones and missiles launched in the deadliest aerial attack of the war to date. At least 12 people were killed and dozens wounded in strikes that targeted numerous cities including Kyiv.
Trump, who has pushed for a ceasefire in the conflict now entering its fourth year, recently held a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to reporters, he signaled that new sanctions on Moscow could be on the table.
“I’ve always gotten along with him,” Trump said of Putin. “But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all."