Trump Criticizes Putin Amid Escalating Conflict in Ukraine: "Maybe He Doesn’t Want Peace"
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly questioned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to ending the war in Ukraine, expressing growing frustration as the conflict continues into its fourth year with no resolution in sight.
In a post shared on Truth Social this Saturday, Trump condemned recent Russian missile attacks on civilian areas in Kyiv, which resulted in 12 fatalities and left over 90 wounded, including children. The deadly assault occurred just days before Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome, where both leaders attended Pope Francis’ funeral.
"There was absolutely no reason for Putin to target civilian cities and towns," Trump stated. "It makes me wonder if he’s genuinely interested in ending the war, or if he’s just stringing me along. Perhaps it’s time to consider tougher measures like 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions'. Too many innocent lives are being lost!"
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, a peace agreement remains elusive. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he could broker a ceasefire within 24 hours if re-elected, voiced deep concerns about the worsening humanitarian crisis.
On Thursday, ahead of a high-level diplomatic visit by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow, Trump directly appealed to Putin, urging an immediate halt to the violence.
"I am deeply disappointed by the latest strikes on Kyiv. They were unnecessary and poorly timed. Vladimir, STOP! 5,000 soldiers are dying every week. We must finalize a peace deal now," he posted on Truth Social.
Earlier this month, Trump had expressed optimism that Easter could mark a turning point, hoping Russia and Ukraine would move towards a negotiated settlement. He even suggested that a peace deal could pave the way for significant economic partnerships between the United States and a post-war Ukraine.
Saturday's meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy marked their first direct encounter since their contentious February Oval Office exchange. Although details about the meeting remain limited, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung described the conversation as "highly productive."
In his latest statements, Trump didn’t shy away from assigning blame to his predecessors. He criticized President Joe Biden for the current conflict, labeling it "Sleepy Joe’s war," and also pointed fingers at former President Barack Obama for Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
"This disaster is Biden’s war, not mine," Trump asserted. "It was doomed from the start and should have never happened. Had I been in office, this situation would have been avoided altogether. Now, I’m just trying to clean up the catastrophic mess left behind by Obama and Biden."
As the war grinds on, Trump’s remarks underscore both the urgency he feels to end the bloodshed and his broader strategy to position himself as the leader capable of restoring peace and order if he returns to the White House.