Trump amplifies NY Post op-ed calling Putin a liar and an obstacle to peace

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump amplified a New York Post editorial sharply attacking Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a dictator whose lies and obstructions are hindering peace efforts in the Ukraine war. Trump’s latest remarks come amid his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Donald Trump's post against Russia

On Wednesday, December 31, Trump took to the social media platform Truth Social, sharing an op-ed that took a far harsher tone with Putin than he usually does.

Trump simply shared the headline text in the post, 'Putin ‘attack’ bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace,' along with a link to the article, which is full of cutting critiques and insults for Putin.

Donald Trump questions Ukraine, echoes Vladimir Putin amid criticisms 

On Monday, December 29, Putin claimed that Ukraine had targeted his residence in the Novgorod region of Russia with drones, a claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied.

“This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war,” wrote Zelensky on his social media accounts. “Typical Russian lies.”

Despite the lack of evidence, Trump suggested that he found Putin’s claim credible and said that he was furious about it. 

Trump even drew criticism for claiming this week that  “Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed.”

Throughout his political career, Trump has offered several compliments for Putin, while having a notably more fractious relationship with Zelensky.

For example, the administration welcomed Putin with a rolled-out red carpet when he met Trump in Alaska, while sending zero American officials to greet Zelenskyy when he landed in Miami on Sunday.

NY Post editorial blasts Vladimir Putin for blocking peace

The Post’s editorial board blamed Putin for stalling the peace efforts. Zelensky had expressed a willingness to make tough concessions, and the 'mood was cautiously optimistic' — but '[t]hen, on cue, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin chose lies, hatred, and death instead.'

The editorial shredded Putin’s claims of a Ukrainian drone strike at his residence as just an excuse for the Russians’ “bluster” in rejecting a chance for peace.

The drone strike 'likely never happened,' wrote the Post, bluntly refusing to 'take the Kremlin’s word for it,' but even if so, the entire escapade just illustrated Russian hypocrisy: “It’s rich that Putin, who has waged a brutal war for nearly four years, believes that any violence in his vicinity merits special outrage."

"After all, Russia launched 131 drones on Christmas at Kyiv and other cities, killing seven civilians. Civilians. The Kremlin specifically targets apartment buildings and power plants to punish the ordinary people of Ukraine."

"The Russians kidnap children. They torture and execute prisoners. Further, Moscow has tried repeatedly to assassinate Zelensky. Any attack on Putin is more than justified."

"…Putin’s entire war is a lie, a 'special military operation' to 'de-Nazify' a country that isn’t run by Nazis. In this case, common sense points to an invented or embellished narrative to give Russia an excuse to reject Trump’s progress."

"Just as he did in Alaska, Putin was offered peace and instead spat in America’s eye.”