Donald Trump says he ‘is not happy’ with Vladimir Putin in a scathing takedown of the Russian leader

US President Donald Trump has taken an unexpected swipe at Vladimir Putin, signalling a shift in tone as tensions rise over Russia’s latest actions in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump issued a rare rebuke to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying he was “not happy” with him after Moscow launched a record number of drones against Ukraine, killing 13 people across the country.

Trump has expressed admiration for Putin in the past, but has in recent weeks shown growing frustration with Moscow’s position in truce negotiations with Kyiv, which are deadlocked.

“I’m not happy with what Putin is doing. He’s killing a lot of people, and I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin,” Trump said on the tarmac at Morristown airport before boarding Air Force One bound for Washington.

US President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Picture: AFP

“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.”

Russia’s attacks on Ukraine came as the two countries completed their biggest prisoner swap since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with 1000 captured soldiers and civilian prisoners sent back by each side.

Those killed in the latest Russian strikes included two children, aged eight and 12, and a 17-year-old, killed in the northwestern region of Zhytomyr, officials said.

“Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.

Responding to a question on the tarmac in Morristown, Trump said he was “absolutely” considering increasing US sanctions on Russia in response to the latest violence.

US President Donald Trump issued a rare rebuke to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying he was “not happy” with him. Picture: AFP

“He’s killing a lot of people. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him, right? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that,” the US leader said.

That statement was at odds with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s testimony at Congress earlier this week, when he said Trump believed that “right now, if you start threatening sanctions, the Russians will stop talking.”

Trump and Putin held a two-hour phone call on Monday after which the US leader said Moscow and Kyiv would “immediately start negotiations towards a ceasefire.” Putin has made no commitment to pause his three-year invasion of Ukraine, announcing only a vague proposal to work on a “memorandum” outlining Moscow’s demands for peace

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RUSSIA, UKRAINE COMPLETE RECORD PRISONER SWAP

Russia says it has exchanged another 303 Ukrainian prisoners of war for the same number of Russian soldiers held by Kyiv.

The move is the last phase of the largest-ever such swap between the warring countries.

“In accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached in Istanbul on May 16, the Russian and Ukrainian sides have (over the weekend) carried out the exchange of 1000 people for 1000 people,” Russia’s defence ministry said, amid international pressure for a ceasefire.

The swap came just hours after Russian strikes killed at least 12 people in Ukraine overnight into Sunday, officials said, as Kyiv and Moscow traded fire.

Ukraine’s emergency services described a night of “terror” as Russia launched a second straight night of major air strikes on Ukraine, including on the capital Kyiv, after pummelling the country with ballistic missiles and drones the previous night.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters try to put out a fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv region, Ukraine on May 25. Picture: Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP

The latest fire came as the two sides pursued their biggest prisoner swap since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and as the United States tries to broker a ceasefire to halt the three-year-old war.

The death toll from the latest Russian strikes included three children ages eight, 12 and 17, killed in the northwestern region of Zhytomyr, officials said.

Ukraine’s military said early Sunday it had shot down 45 Russian missiles and 266 attack drones overnight.

Four people were also reported dead in the western Khmelnytskyi region, four in the Kyiv region and one in Mykolaiv in the south.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, private houses are seen ruined after a Russian drones attack in Kyiv region on May 25. Picture: Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP

Emergency services said four people were killed and 16 injured in the Kyiv region, including three children, in the “massive night attack”.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv, with Tymur Tkachenko, with the head of the city’s military administration, warning “the night will not be easy”.

The capital was “under attack” but “air defences are operating”, said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

Russian authorities meanwhile reported that a dozen drones flying towards Moscow had been downed.

In Moscow, restrictions were imposed on at least four airports, including the main hub Sheremetyevo, the Russian civilian aviation authority said.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters search for victims following a Russian air attack in Zhitomir region, Ukraine on May 25. Picture: Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP

The renewed attacks came after Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones overnight Friday to Saturday, which left 15 wounded, according to Ukrainian officials.

The Russian military said on Saturday that Ukraine had targeted it with 788 drones and missiles since Tuesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia’s attacks indicated Moscow was “prolonging the war” and repeated his call for ramped-up sanctions.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, a local resident cries standing amid the rubble of her house ruined after Russia's air attack in Khmelnytskyi region, Ukraine on May 25. Picture: Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP

On Saturday, 307 Russian prisoners of war were exchanged for the same number of Ukrainian soldiers, according to announcements in Kyiv and Moscow.

Both sides received 390 people in the first stage on Friday. Russia has signalled it will send Ukraine its terms for a peace settlement after the exchange, without saying what those terms would be.

Originally published as Donald Trump says he ‘is not happy’ with Vladimir Putin in a scathing takedown of the Russian leader