Russia conducted its largest drone and missile attack on Ukraine to date, which took place on the night of May 25th-26th. Over three nights from May 25th, record-breaking attacks were launched. Initially, on May 25th, Russia struck 13 Ukrainian areas with 298 drones and 69 missiles, resulting in 14 fatalities and 70 injuries. On May 26th, the assault continued with 355 drones and 9 missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on May 26th that over 900 drones had been launched by Russia over three days.
This massive strike sparked anger in U.S. President Donald Trump. On his social media platform Truth Social, he launched a tirade against Russian President Vladimir Putin, labeling him as 'entirely insane.' On Tuesday, Trump wrote, 'Vladimir Putin does not understand that if I weren't around, many bad things with Russia would have occurred, and I'm genuinely speaking of very bad things. He's playing with fire!'
However, the Kremlin dismissed Trump's remarks, suggesting that Trump and others might be overwhelmed by emotions. But former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned Trump, referencing his claims that Putin was 'playing with fire' and that 'very bad things' could happen with Russia. Medvedev added, 'The only very bad thing I know is World War III. I hope Trump understands this!'
Why is Trump Angry?
The root of Trump's frustration is understandable. Acting as a broker for peace between Russia and Ukraine was a major campaign promise. Trump frequently stated that he would end the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of assuming power. In a CNN Town Hall in May 2023, Trump emphasized the dire situation, saying, 'Russians and Ukrainians are dying. I want them to stop dying. I'll achieve it in 24 hours.'
Once inaugurated in January 2025, Trump promptly initiated peace talks, engaging both Zelensky and Putin, advocating for direct conversations. Trump proposed a 30-day ceasefire to pave the way for comprehensive discussions, but his efforts fell short as Russia's attacks intensified instead.
Analyzing Russia's Assault on Ukraine: Statistics
Source: aajtak
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, prior to these recent large-scale attacks, between April 20th and May 16th, Ukraine witnessed 4,126 violent incidents. Among them, 297 involved attacks on civilians, resulting in at least 108 fatalities. In this period, Russia executed over 80 long-range missile and drone assaults. The Russian forces also made significant strategic gains in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions.
Why Won't Putin Relent?
Putin's stubborn stance might derive from Trump's abrasive demeanor during Zelensky's February visit to the White House. Putin rejected direct peace talks and instead sent a delegation to Turkey, which Zelensky dismissed as 'mediocre.' After days of deadlock, it became evident that Russia was not inclined toward negotiations.
Inconclusive Talks in Istanbul
After three years, direct talks between Russia and Ukraine resumed on May 16, 2025, in Istanbul. Although these discussions led to the significant achievement of exchanging 1,000 prisoners, Ukraine's primary objective of an unequivocal, unconditional ceasefire remained unmet. Ukraine proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire and a direct Zelensky-Putin meeting, but Russia declined, insisting that Ukraine withdraw from disputed territories before discussing a ceasefire.
