Russia has brushed off US President Donald Trump’s description of Vladimir Putin as “crazy” as it escalated aerial attacks that have hit Ukraine with more than 1,000 drone and missile strikes in three days.
Asked about Trump’s sharp condemnation of attacks that killed at least a dozen civilians, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin was grateful to the US president for helping organise direct talks with Kyiv, but sought to justify the assaults as necessary for Russia’s security.
“We are at a critical point that has, of course, much to do with absolutely everyone’s emotional overload and emotional reactions,” state newswire RIA Novosti quoted Peskov as telling reporters on Monday.