US President says Putin "playing with fire” as Russia intensifies Ukraine assault

With the war in Europe escalating, President Donald Trump has sharply criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin after Moscow launched some of the deadliest drone and missile strikes in the three-year-old war in Ukraine. Speaking on Tuesday, Trump warned that Putin was "playing with fire" by refusing to engage in the ceasefire talks with Kyiv, even as Russian forces pushed forward in Ukraine’s northeast region. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Putin had "gone absolutely CRAZY" for ordering a massive aerial assault. Trump had previously taken a friendly stance towards Putin. Last week, the Russian President, after a two-hour call with Trump, said that Russia was willing to work with Ukraine on a future peace accord. He noted that this would include defining terms for a possible ceasefire. However, Ukraine, the US, and other European allies have pushed for an immediate, unconditional 30-day ceasefire. The Kremlin said it is still working on the memorandum and cannot yet estimate how long it will take to finalise the ceasefire. Kyiv and European leaders have accused Moscow of using delays to gain ground on the battlefield.