Trump Warns Putin Is “Playing With Fire” Amid Escalating Tensions Over Ukraine
President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 27, accusing him of “playing with fire” and signaling deep frustration over Moscow’s recent escalation in Ukraine—marking the third time in three days that Trump has publicly rebuked his Russian counterpart.
“There’s one thing Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize: if it weren’t for me, very bad things—truly bad—would have happened to Russia. He is playing with fire!” Trump wrote in a message on Truth Social.
The White House has not clarified what prompted Trump’s direct warning, though Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered a general statement blaming the ongoing war in Ukraine on the failed policies of former President Joe Biden. “President Trump has always made it clear: he wants both sides to reach a peace agreement through negotiation,” she said. “He’s a smart leader and is weighing all options carefully.”
Trump’s comment came days after a wave of Russian missile and drone attacks struck multiple Ukrainian cities—including Kyiv—despite ongoing diplomatic talks. At a press briefing in New Jersey, Trump said he was “completely dissatisfied” and admitted he didn’t understand why Putin would escalate militarily in the middle of negotiations.
Medvedev Responds: “The Only Truly Bad Thing Is World War III”
Former Russian President and current Security Council deputy chair Dmitry Medvedev fired back on X (formerly Twitter), writing in English: “Trump says Putin is playing with fire and that very bad things are coming for Russia. In my opinion, there is only one truly bad thing—World War III. I hope Mr. Trump understands that.”
The back-and-forth reflects mounting tension between Trump and the Kremlin, especially after what had initially appeared to be a diplomatic breakthrough. On May 19, Trump and Putin held a two-hour phone call in which Trump announced both Russia and Ukraine would “immediately begin negotiations toward a ceasefire agreement.”
Putin later confirmed Russia’s willingness to engage in talks based on a “memorandum outlining shared principles for a potential peace settlement,” though the Kremlin said it could not estimate how long drafting that document would take. As of May 27, Moscow said it was still working on it.
Trump Frustrated With Both Sides
In another Truth Social post shortly after his public warning to Putin, Trump criticized both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for lacking sincerity at the negotiating table. He claimed that Zelensky’s recent statements had “hurt his own country” and questioned whether Putin ever intended to stop at annexing select regions, suggesting the Russian leader is aiming to take “all of Ukraine” while “launching missiles into cities for no reason.”
Kremlin: Trump “Emotionally Overloaded”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on May 26 that Trump appeared “emotionally overloaded” and “too invested” in jump-starting the peace process. However, he stopped short of criticizing the U.S. president, instead acknowledging Washington’s—particularly Trump’s—“genuine efforts” in initiating dialogue.
A Deepening Divide
While Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, his latest remarks suggest growing disillusionment with both the progress of negotiations and the actions of leaders on both sides.
With the Kremlin showing no signs of backing down and Kyiv demanding tougher responses, the likelihood of a near-term breakthrough appears increasingly slim.
As Trump’s tone sharpens and the battlefield intensifies, the risk of further escalation—and the breakdown of any fragile diplomatic momentum—remains dangerously real.
(Sources: Reuters, AFP)
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