Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of experiencing an “emotional overload” after Trump branded him “absolutely crazy” for launching a brutal wave of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded sharply to Trump’s comments but also expressed gratitude for the former president’s role in pushing forward ceasefire negotiations.
“We are truly thankful to the Americans, and to President Trump personally, for their help in organizing and launching this negotiation process,” Peskov stated.
He continued, “Of course, this is a very tense moment, and naturally, it’s accompanied by emotional strain for everyone involved, including emotional reactions.”
The exchange came after Russia carried out one of its most extensive aerial offensives since the war began, targeting civilian areas across Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 355 drones—a record number—alongside nine cruise missiles in a massive overnight assault. NATO scrambled fighter jets from Poland for the second consecutive night in response.
Despite the deadly onslaught, Peskov reiterated Moscow’s stated commitment to pursuing peace, though he offered no acknowledgment of the recent attacks.
He claimed that Russian officials were preparing a formal peace proposal, saying, “Work is ongoing. This is a serious draft, a document requiring thorough review and preparation.”
In a phone call with Trump last week, Putin reportedly stated that Russia and Ukraine would begin drafting a memorandum aimed at reaching a peace agreement. However, officials in Kyiv and Western allies dismissed the move as a stalling tactic, accusing Moscow of lacking genuine interest in ending the conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Friday that Moscow would be prepared to present Ukraine with a draft proposal outlining terms for a long-term peace deal, but only after the completion of a prisoner exchange agreed upon in Istanbul.
That exchange, which involved the release of 1,000 prisoners from both sides, was completed on Sunday, according to Russia’s defense ministry.
Peskov confirmed that further peace negotiations would proceed based on the Istanbul agreements, with the prisoner swap marking the first phase.
Meanwhile, President Trump condemned Putin’s actions in a post on Truth Social, accusing him of killing civilians without justification and warning of harsher sanctions.
“Missiles and drones are being shot into cities in Ukraine for no reason whatsoever,” Trump wrote. “I’ve always said Putin wants all of Ukraine, not just part of it. If that’s true, it will lead to Russia’s downfall.”
