Trump blames Zelensky for war after deadly Russian strike

U.S. President Donald Trump ignited a firestorm of criticism on Monday after he publicly blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the war with Russia — just one day after a devastating Russian missile barrage killed at least 35 people and injured 117 across multiple Ukrainian cities.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump accused both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin of sharing responsibility for the ongoing conflict, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions.

“You don’t start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles,” Trump said, in remarks that were quickly circulated across social media. “Zelensky and Putin — they’re both to blame. Millions of people dead, and it didn’t have to happen.”

The remarks came less than 24 hours after Russia launched one of its most intense air assaults on Ukraine in recent months, targeting civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa.

Ukrainian officials said the attack included cruise missiles, drones, and hypersonic weapons, leaving hospitals, residential buildings, and schools in ruins.

Zelensky responded sharply in a video address late Monday, saying: “To shift blame onto the victim is to embolden the aggressor.

Ukraine did not start this war — it is defending itself from unprovoked aggression. The world must remain united in the face of tyranny.”

The Kremlin did not immediately respond to Trump’s comments, but Russian state media aired the footage extensively, framing it as evidence of growing American division over the war.