US President Donald Trump on Sunday delivered a sharp rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s continued attacks on Ukraine.Responding to the reporters, Trump said, “I am very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was somebody that meant what he said. And he’ll talk so beautifully and then he’ll bomb people at night. We don’t like that.”
Major airstrike by Russia
His remarks came after Russia launched its fourth major airstrike this month, targeting several western Ukrainian cities.According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Russian assault involved 597 drones and 26 missiles, killing two people, injuring 20, and damaging civilian infrastructure from Kharkiv and Sumy in the northeast to Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi in the west.
Sanctions on Russia?
Asked whether the US would impose sanctions on Russia, Trump replied, “We’re going to see what we will see tomorrow. Okay. We have the secretary general. As you know, Europe has announced sanctions. But I am very disappointed with President Putin.”A bipartisan group of US senators is pushing a sanctions bill that would give Trump broad powers to hit Russia with what they call “sledgehammer” measures. While Trump has so far held off, hoping to convince Putin to end the war through diplomacy, recent developments suggest his position may be shifting. During a cabinet meeting, he said, “I’m looking at it very strongly.”A major announcement is expected Monday, when Trump will address the Russia situation and meet Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in Washington. At the same time, US special envoy Keith Kellogg will begin a new visit to Ukraine.
US will send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine
Trump also confirmed that the United States will send Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv. “We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” he said. “I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they’re going to have some because they do need protection.”This marks a reversal from the White House’s earlier consideration to pause some arms deliveries. A new deal is now in the works that would involve Nato paying the US for the weapons sent to Ukraine.“We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military and they’re going to pay us 100 percent for them,” Trump said. “It’ll be business for us.”With the war in Ukraine now stretching into its fourth year and Russian strikes intensifying, Trump’s latest statements suggest a possible turning point, combining military support, diplomatic pressure, and the looming threat of economic sanctions against Moscow.
