Donald Trump Fires Warning Shot at Putin over Fresh Ukraine Attack: "He's Playing with Fire"
- US President Donald Trump warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that he is “playing with fire” after Russia launched one of its deadliest waves of aerial attacks on Ukraine
- He claimed Putin had underestimated his restraint and suggested that harsher consequences could soon follow
- US media reported that new sanctions on critical sectors of Russia’s economy were being considered in response to the escalation
- Ukrainian officials confirmed Russian forces had seized four more villages in Sumy as Moscow pushed to secure a buffer zone
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
US President Donald Trump has escalated his war of words with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Source: Getty Images
Trump warned that the Kremlin strongman is "playing with fire" following a brutal wave of drone and missile attacks against Ukraine.
The stern warning, delivered through Trump’s Truth Social platform, signalled a renewed shift in tone from the American leader, who until recently had struck a more measured public stance on Russia’s aggression.
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However, with Moscow intensifying its offensive and peace talks at a standstill, Trump appears to have run out of patience.
"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 posted.
This fiery outburst comes amid the worst aerial bombardment Ukraine has experienced since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Over the weekend, Moscow unleashed an unprecedented barrage of 367 drones and missiles on Ukraine, targeting both military infrastructure and civilian centres.
How will Trump respond to Russia's actions?
Trump, who has long claimed personal credit for deterring global conflicts, used his platform to draw a line in the sand, accusing Putin of misjudging his restraint.
While the president did not outline specific punitive measures in his Truth Social post, multiple US media outlets, including CNN, have reported that new sanctions targeting key sectors of Russia’s economy might be announced.
Source: Getty Images
Ukrainian officials confirmed that Russian forces had overrun four more villages in the northeastern Sumy region, Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka, further eroding Ukraine’s grip on contested border areas.
The villages, which lie near the region where Ukrainian forces previously mounted a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, are now reportedly evacuated as Moscow’s forces try to establish a new buffer zone.
Sumy regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said Russian troops were attempting to advance strategically to shield their regained territory.
How did Trump-Putin phone call end
Earlier, following a phone call between Trump and Putin, both leaders reportedly agreed to initiate immediate negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
Trump indicated that their respective teams would commence discussions promptly, with a potential meeting between the two leaders planned in Saudi Arabia.
He also mentioned informing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the conversation.
While Trump expressed a desire to stop the ongoing conflict, he suggested that Ukraine might not regain all its lost territories.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
