U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for stalling ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine, warning that Putin is “playing with fire” as Russian forces captured four villages in Ukraine’s Sumy region.
Trump’s remarks, posted on Truth Social, highlight escalating tensions amid deadly drone and missile attacks.
Trump, who has emphasised his rapport with Putin, expressed frustration after a two-hour call last week failed to secure an immediate ceasefire, per NPR. “What Putin doesn’t realise is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have happened to Russia,” Trump wrote, without specifying. After the call, Putin said Russia is open to drafting a peace memorandum but gave no timeline, per Reuters.
President Trump warns Moscow, claiming Russia avoided ‘REALLY BAD’ consequences only thanks to him
‘Putin doesn’t realize… he’s playing with fire!’ — Trump’s message leaves little room for misinterpretation
Until he posts the opposite tomorrow morning pic.twitter.com/AOTjt3uYLS
— RT (@RT_com) May 27, 2025Ukraine and its allies, including the U.S., have pushed for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which Kyiv accuses Moscow of delaying to exploit battlefield gains, per The Guardian. Russian official Dmitry Medvedev dismissed Trump’s warning, stating on X that the only “REALLY BAD thing” is World War III, per Reuters.
Russian forces have taken control of Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka in Ukraine’s Sumy region, close to the Russian border. This follows their capture of Bilovody. Sumy Governor Oleh Hryhorov stated that residents were evacuated from these areas. Russian troops are using motorcycles and drones to establish a “buffer zone,” a strategy that President Putin mentioned again in March. These territorial advances come alongside some of the largest drone and missile strikes from Russia since 2022, although the intensity of attacks decreased from Monday night to Tuesday.
Zelenskyy’s Call for Support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged former President Trump to increase military aid and impose more sanctions on Russia. He warned that Russia is preparing offensives in the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia. U.S. officials have confirmed that a package of sanctions is ready; however, Trump has delayed its implementation, citing progress in diplomatic talks. Ukraine’s recent drone strikes on Russian targets, including airports in Moscow, demonstrate its determination.
Security analyst Dr. Elena Petrova from Georgetown University states, “Trump’s rhetoric signals frustration, but without sanctions or aid, it risks emboldening Putin’s advances.”
As Russia gains ground and ceasefire talks falter, Trump’s warnings and Zelenskyy’s pleas underscore the urgency of resolving the Ukraine conflict.
