Trump Criticizes Putin Over Ukraine Conflict, Kremlin Dismisses Remarks

U.S. President Donald Trump has recently adopted a sharply critical tone toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of dishonesty regarding the Ukraine conflict and expressing frustration over stalled peace talks and ongoing Russian military actions. Trump labeled much of Putin's rhetoric as "bulls***" and hinted at imposing new sanctions and providing more weapons to Ukraine, signaling a tougher U.S. stance than earlier anticipated given his initial perceived alignment with Moscow. The Kremlin, through spokesman Dmitry Peskov, responded by describing Trump's language as harsh but maintained a calm stance, emphasizing a commitment to continuing dialogue and repairing bilateral relations despite tensions. Russian state media have reacted with a mix of shock and skepticism, noting Trump's unpredictable approach and warning against reading too much into his statements. Additionally, an unverified audio recording surfaced of Trump allegedly threatening to "bomb Moscow to hell" during a conversation with Putin, which Kremlin officials declined to confirm, citing a lack of Kremlin records of such talks during the period Trump was not in office. Overall, the evolving dynamic reflects increasing strain and uncertainty in U.S.-Russia relations amid the ongoing Ukraine war.