President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, accusing him of “playing with fire” as tensions escalate over the war in Ukraine and faltering peace negotiations.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed, “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!” The U.S. president stopped short of outlining specific threats but hinted at the possibility of imposing new sanctions.
The remarks mark a significant shift in Trump’s previously cordial tone toward the Kremlin leader. Once praised by Trump for his “strength,” Putin now finds himself the target of increasingly harsh rebukes from the White House. On Sunday, Trump called Putin “absolutely CRAZY” following a devastating Russian drone strike on Kyiv that killed at least 13 people.
According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and CNN, the Trump administration is weighing new sanctions on Moscow as early as this week, though no final decision has been announced.
The deterioration in relations comes despite a recent phone call between the two leaders, in which Trump claimed Putin had agreed to “immediately” begin ceasefire talks. However, no tangible progress has followed, and Russia’s aerial bombardments on Ukraine have intensified.
Trump’s growing frustration with the Kremlin appears to be driven by Moscow’s perceived unwillingness to advance peace talks. Meanwhile, the Russian government has blamed Kyiv for the impasse, accusing it of attempting to “disrupt” peace efforts and justifying its strikes as retaliation for Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian civilians.
With both sides trading blame and violence escalating, the prospects for a ceasefire remain uncertain. Trump’s shift in rhetoric suggests the White House may soon take a more aggressive stance in response to Russia’s actions.
Written By Rodney Mbua
