Putin thinks Trump is Stupid, and sources say Trump finally knows it
As renewed peace talks hover on the horizon, Russia launched an intense barrage of drones and missiles against Ukraine this past weekend, marking the crescendo of a week steeped in relentless strikes on civilian infrastructure. The Kremlin maintains the narrative that its military is exclusively targeting strategic defense sites, but not even the staunchest apologists can say with a straight face that Ukrainian kindergartens and emergency rooms are doubling as weapons depots. In a twist that’s catching global attention, even President Trump now appears to have caught on to the Kremlin’s duplicity, unleashing a verbal tirade against Putin that left little to interpretation.
On Sunday, the president fumed that he “does not like” what Putin is doing and labeled him “absolutely crazy.” The Kremlin didn’t sit quietly—spokesman Dmitry Peskov fired back, suggesting Trump was dealing with an “emotional overload,” while Russian state media wasted no time spinning the story. According to their headlines, the U.S. is punishing Europe with tariffs while mysteriously sparing Russia—a message clearly intended to sow discord among American allies.
While their propaganda machine stays on overdrive, Russian news outlets are also airing alarming signs of domestic economic collapse. Outside the booming tank factories, the rest of the economy is plummeting. And even that uptick in military hardware production is nowhere near adequate to cover the immense battlefield losses. If threats from Saudi Arabia and the United States to drag oil prices below $50 a barrel come to fruition, Russia’s war engine could sputter to a halt before the year is out.
Even more disturbing are the voices in Russian media reviving Soviet-era fantasies, arguing that, legally, the USSR never dissolved. In their warped interpretation, the ongoing war in Ukraine is merely a domestic cleanup effort. And by that logic, any assault on the Baltic states or Poland would fall under the same twisted “internal” framework. Those countries aren’t taking any chances; their military stockpiles are growing daily in anticipation.
But the real shift—finally—is happening in Washington. Trump, long viewed by Moscow as a convenient pawn, is showing signs he’s woken up to the manipulation. The Russians have been openly baiting him, and the president, whose ego has been thoroughly bruised, seems to have had enough. He’s no longer blaming European allies or Kyiv—he sees clearly now that the architects of this chaos sit in Moscow. Perhaps the Kremlin’s biggest misstep wasn’t invading Ukraine, but underestimating Trump’s pride. That’s the one lever you don’t pull unless you’re ready for consequences.
And if he follows through, this could be a turning point. Trump’s fury might finally translate into decisive action—crippling sanctions that strip Russia of the oil revenues it needs to fuel both its war effort and its crumbling economy.
At this stage, most observers beyond the Kremlin walls are hoping—if not praying—that Trump stays angry. That he channels that outrage into something strategic, something that cuts deep. Because at this point, serious pressure on Russia might be our only real shot at ending this conflict. Talking with Putin clearly hasn’t worked. Maybe a furious Trump will.
Sources:
nytimes.com/2025/05/18/world/europe/russia-ukraine-missile-strike.html
www.politico.com/news/2025/05/19/trump-putin-comments-ukraine-00123456
reuters.com/world/europe/russia-economy-sanctions-war-pressure-2025-05-20/
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