‘Putin Playing With Fire,’ Trump Warns
President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against “playing with fire” as tensions escalate over the stalled peace talks in Ukraine.
The warning follows an earlier statement at the weekend in which Trump called Putin “Crazy” following a massive Russian drone assault on Ukraine that left at least 13 dead.
The U.S. President hinted at the possibility of new sanctions against Russia that could intensify pressure on an already fragile diplomatic relationship.
“What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realise is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia — and I mean Really Bad,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“He’s playing with fire!” Trump declared.
Trump did not elaborate on what he meant by “really bad things” and refrained from issuing any direct threats.
However, reports by the Wall Street Journal and CNN indicate that the White House is considering imposing fresh sanctions on Russia as early as this week.
When asked by reporters on Sunday about the prospect of new sanctions, Trump said was “absolutely” considering further measures.
While Trump has often spoken favorably of the Russian leader, he has grown increasingly critical in recent weeks amid mounting frustration with Russia’s approach to ceasefire negotiations.
That frustration reached a tipping point at the weekend, when Russia launched what officials described as a record-breaking drone attack on Ukrainian territory.
“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia,” Trump wrote Sunday night, adding, “but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely Crazy!”
Despite a phone call just over a week ago in which Trump claimed Putin had agreed to begin ceasefire talks “immediately,” Russian strikes have continued.
On Tuesday, Russia accused Ukraine of trying to “disrupt” peace negotiations and defending its aerial attacks as retaliation for increased Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian civilians.
‘Putin Playing With Fire,’ Trump Warns is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
