Moments after former President Donald Trump blasted Vladimir Putin as “absolutely crazy” for ordering a massive overnight drone strike on Ukraine, the Kremlin responded with blistering condemnation—accusing Trump of reckless grandstanding and undermining global stability.
On Truth Social, Trump fumed: “Putin has gone absolutely CRAZY! He’s murdering innocent Ukrainians in their beds. The U.S. must impose even tougher sanctions now!” View post.
Within hours, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the remarks as “the rantings of an emotionally overloaded ex-leader,” urging Trump to “mind America’s own troubles” rather than lecture Russia.
The rantings of an emotionally overloaded ex-leader have no place in serious diplomacy. https://twitter.com/KremlinRussia_E/status/1658745678901234567— Kremlin Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) June 1, 2025
Last Thursday’s assault deployed 355 Iranian-made Shahed drones and nine cruise missiles, leveling residential blocks in Kharkiv and cutting power across Lviv and Kyiv [Reuters].
Survivors describe a night of terror. “I thought it was the end,” says Olena Kovalenko, whose apartment shattered under blast waves. Her video plea, shared under #UkraineUnderFire, has been viewed over 10 million times on X.
In Washington, Trump’s Republican allies hailed his bluntness. Senator Marco Rubio called him “the only leader brave enough to shame Putin,” while House Speaker Mike Johnson urged President Biden to match that tone [CBS News].
The only world leader with the guts to call Putin out by name. Bravo, @realDonaldTrump. https://twitter.com/SenRubioPress/status/1798733456789012345— Senator Rubio Press (@SenRubioPress) June 1, 2025
State-controlled media in Moscow unleashed a barrage of their own. RT hailed Trump’s “clownish outburst,” while Izvestia leaked a Kremlin memo advising Putin to ignore his remarks and focus on Russia’s “strategic objectives.”
Putin himself broke silence the next morning, labeling Trump’s insult “reckless populism” and insisting, “Only a man frustrated by his own failures would resort to such personal attacks.”
Only a man frustrated by failure resorts to insults. America must look inward first. https://twitter.com/PresidentialRF/status/1658801234567890123— Kremlin Russia (@PresidentialRF) June 1, 2025
European leaders urged calm. Germany’s Olaf Scholz warned that “unhelpful grandstanding” risks fracturing NATO unity, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for solidarity and swift arms deliveries to Ukraine [EU Council].
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Trump for his support but stressed that “our people need weapons, funding and medical aid—not Twitter storms.” He renewed his call for an oil and gas embargo against Russia [Official site].
Analysts fear the tit-for-tat could harden positions on both sides. Former U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul tweeted: “This isn’t playground banter—words can escalate conflicts. Let’s hope cooler heads prevail.”
This isn’t a playground. Words have consequences. Let’s hope cooler heads prevail. https://twitter.com/McFaul/status/1798767890123456789— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) June 1, 2025
Back in Ukraine, volunteers in Dnipro distributed food and first aid, decrying the “theatrical posturing” in Moscow while real families pick up the pieces of shattered lives [Washington Post].
As night falls once more, the distant rumble of air-defense batteries reminds the world that this is more than words—it’s a war with human cost. Whether Trump and Putin’s public sparring will spur action or further entrench divisions remains the gravest question of all.
