Former U.S. President Donald Trump has defended Russian President Vladimir Putin’s latest military actions in Ukraine, stating that the Kremlin leader is "doing what anybody would do" following a major missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities. The strikes, which came days after the U.S. suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, have escalated tensions in the ongoing war.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said he finds it "easier" to engage with Russia than Ukraine and suggested that Putin “wants to end the war.”
“I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. And they don’t have the cards,” Trump said. “In terms of getting a final settlement, it may be easier dealing with Russia.”
Asked whether Putin was exploiting the pause in U.S. intelligence sharing and military support, Trump responded: "I actually think he is doing what anybody else would do.”
At least 11 people, including five children, were killed in Russian missile and drone attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dobropillia overnight, Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said on Saturday. The assault, which included ballistic missiles, multiple rockets, and drones, also wounded 30 people and caused significant damage to residential buildings and vehicles.
"While extinguishing the fire, the occupiers struck again, damaging the fire truck," the ministry stated on Telegram, sharing images of destroyed buildings and emergency workers clearing debris.
In a separate attack, three civilians were killed in a drone strike on Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the escalation, stressing the need to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses and strengthen sanctions against Russia.
“Such strikes show that Russia’s objectives have not changed. Therefore, it is crucial to continue doing our best to protect lives, strengthen our air defenses, and increase sanctions against Russia. Everything that helps Putin finance the war must collapse,” Zelenskyy said on Facebook.
The latest Russian offensive comes after Washington halted its military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a move analysts told Reuters could weaken Kyiv’s air defenses as it runs low on advanced missiles and struggles to track attacks effectively.
On Friday, Russian forces also targeted Ukraine’s energy and gas infrastructure in their first major missile attack since the U.S. aid pause, putting additional pressure on Kyiv as Trump pushes for a quick resolution to the war.
“We’re doing very well with Russia. But right now, they’re bombing the hell out of Ukraine,” Trump told reporters. He reiterated his claim of a positive relationship with Putin, despite past political controversies.
“Despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax, I’ve always had a good relationship with Putin,” Trump said. “He wants to end the war. And I think he’s going to be more generous than he has to be.”
Dobropillia, located in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, was home to about 28,000 people before the war. It sits roughly 22 kilometers from the front line near Pokrovsk, a key strategic hub under repeated Russian attack in recent weeks.
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