US President Donald Trump has signalled growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin by sharing a sharply worded opinion piece that accuses Moscow of blocking peace efforts in Ukraine and urges Washington to intensify pressure on the Kremlin.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump shared a New York Post editorial titled “Putin ‘attack’ bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace,” without adding any personal comment. The move was widely read as an implicit endorsement of the article’s arguments.
The editorial contrasted recent diplomatic momentum with what it described as Russian obstruction. It pointed to optimism following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, noting that Kyiv had shown flexibility on key elements of a potential peace plan, including territorial concessions.
“Then, on cue, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin chose lies, hatred, and death instead,” the editorial stated.
The article took aim at Moscow’s claim that Ukraine had attempted a drone attack on one of Putin’s residences, an allegation Kyiv has denied. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had said Russia had no option but to be “more rigid” in negotiations following the alleged incident.
The editorial dismissed that position and accused Putin of hypocrisy. “It’s rich that Putin, who has waged a brutal war for nearly four years, believes that any violence in his vicinity merits special outrage,” it said.
The piece went on to cite Russian attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine, including a major drone strike on Christmas.
“After all, Russia launched 131 drones on Christmas at Kyiv and other cities, killing seven civilians. Civilians. The Kremlin specifically targets apartment buildings and power plants to punish the ordinary people of Ukraine,” the editorial read.
It also accused Russia of abducting Ukrainian children, torturing and executing prisoners of war, and attempting to assassinate Zelenskyy.
“The Russians kidnap children. They torture and execute prisoners. Further, Moscow has tried repeatedly to assassinate Zelensky. Any attack on Putin is more than justified,” the article said.
The New York Post editorial further accused Putin of undermining peace overtures from Washington, stating that the Russian leader was effectively “spitting in America’s eye” despite being offered a diplomatic exit. It also highlighted Moscow’s ties with Iran, Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and North Korea as evidence of Russia’s global posture.
“Despite his defiance, Putin’s actions smack of a deteriorating internal situation,” the editorial said. “His economy is stagnating. Propaganda is flailing as soldiers return with missing limbs. His victory is neither imminent nor inevitable. Spare us his crocodile tears and turn up the heat.”
Trump’s decision to amplify the piece came as US intelligence agencies rejected Moscow’s claim about an attempted Ukrainian strike on Putin. According to reports, a Central Intelligence Agency assessment briefed to Trump by CIA Director John Ratcliffe found no evidence that Ukraine had targeted Putin or any of his residences, including the alleged attack on his property in the Novgorod region.
The assessment concluded that the claimed incident did not occur, further undercutting Russia’s justification for hardening its negotiating stance.
Trump’s post, though brief, adds to signs of a shift in tone toward Moscow, with the US president appearing increasingly willing to publicly align with criticism that places responsibility for the stalled peace process squarely on the Kremlin.
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