Trump says maybe Putin 'doesn't want to stop the war' in Ukraine

WASHINGTON DC - US President Donald Trump on Saturday criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine in recent days, and said "maybe he doesn't want to stop the war."

In a post on Truth Social after his talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome, Trump also said maybe Putin "has to be dealt with differently," possibly through additional sanctions targeting Moscow.

In this handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service in Kyiv on April 26, 2025, (L-R) France's President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump speak with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. (Photo by Handout / AFP)

"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days," Trump said in the post.

"It makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?' Too many people are dying!!!"

(1st ROW - L TO R) Finland's President Alexander Stubb, US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump, Estonia's President Alar Karis, Spain's King Felipe VI ans his wife Spain's Queen Letizia, Poland's President Andrzej Duda (C), Philippines' First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos (R2) observe the coffin of late Pope Francis during the funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square in The Vatican on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)

Putin told US envoy Steve Witkoff at a Friday meeting in Moscow that he was ready for talks with Ukraine "without preconditions," the Kremlin said Saturday. - AFP