Trump on Putin’s Ukraine Attacks: Surprise & Response
- Donald Trump said Sunday he was "very surprised" by Vladimir Putin's escalation of attacks on Ukrainian cities.
- “I’m not happy with what Putin is doing," Trump said.
- When asked about potential actions, Trump responded to a reporter, "We'll see what we're going to do.What, am I going to tell you?
Donald Trump expressed his surprise at Putin’s intensified attacks on Ukraine, despite claiming his efforts to negotiate a ceasefire. The former president, speaking at an airport in New Jersey, stated he was displeased with Putin’s actions, citing the loss of life—a stark shift from his previous stance. Moreover, Trump confirmed he postponed new tariffs on EU imports until July 9, following a call with Ursula von der Leyen. he also defended his administration’s policies on foreign students at Harvard. The Russia-Ukraine crisis continues to evolve rapidly; these developments are making global waves. News Directory 3 covers these breaking stories and offers in-depth analysis, including potential responses from the U.S. and other nations. Discover what’s next as the situation unfolds.
Trump “Surprised” by Putin’s Ukraine Bombardment Despite Ceasefire Efforts
Updated May 26, 2025
Donald Trump said Sunday he was “very surprised” by Vladimir Putin‘s escalation of attacks on Ukrainian cities. This comes despite what Trump described as his own efforts to negotiate a ceasefire. The former president made the remarks to reporters at an airport in New Jersey.
“I’m not happy with what Putin is doing,” Trump said. “He’s killing a lot of people and I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin. I’ve known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people and I don’t like it at all.” He added that the renewed Russian assault on Ukraine was unexpected, especially during ongoing discussions.
When asked about potential actions, Trump responded to a reporter, “We’ll see what we’re going to do.What, am I going to tell you? You’re the fake news, aren’t you? You’re totally fake.” He reiterated his disapproval of Putin’s actions, stating, “I don’t like what Putin is doing, not even a little bit, he’s killing people. Something happened to this guy, and I don’t like it.”
Trump also confirmed he agreed to postpone implementing new 50% tariffs on imports from the European Union until July 9. This decision followed a conversation with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU. “We had a very nice call,” Trump said, backing up von der Leyen’s earlier social media proclamation. Von der Leyen stated that “europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively,” requiring the additional time to reach an agreement.
The former president also reiterated his justification for his administration’s crackdown on Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students, echoing previous social media posts.
What’s next
the situation in Ukraine remains fluid, and the international community is watching closely to see how the U.S. and other nations will respond to the renewed russian aggression. Further discussions regarding tariffs and trade with the EU are expected before the July 9 deadline.