[지식루프 영어뉴스로 배우는 직독직해] Trump calls Putin 'crazy' after largest Russian drone attack on Ukraine
📈 English News Study
Today's Story Summary
Donald Trump has labeled Russian President Vladimir Putin "crazy" following Russia's largest drone attack on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Ukraine reported 355 drones and 9 cruise missiles launched between Sunday evening and Monday morning, with at least 12 people killed and dozens injured. Trump, despite a recent two-hour phone call with Putin to discuss a ceasefire, criticized Putin's actions and stated he would consider increasing US sanctions. Meanwhile, Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's public statements, suggesting they "cause problems." The Kremlin viewed Trump's "crazy" remark as an "emotional overload" but expressed gratitude for his role in organizing ceasefire talks.
🇺🇸 English Text
Trump calls Putin 'crazy' after largest Russian drone attack on Ukraine
Donald Trump has called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin "crazy" following Moscow's largest aerial attack yet on Ukraine.
The US president said on Truth Social: "Something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely crazy. He is needlessly killing a lot of people."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this was a "very important moment which is connected to an emotional overload of everyone involved" but added Putin was taking decisions "necessary for the security" of Russia.
Between Sunday evening and Monday morning, Russia launched 355 drones and nine cruise missiles against Ukraine, according to Kyiv's air force.
It was the largest drone attack on Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion started in February 2022, the Ukrainian air force said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said "only a sense of total impunity" could allow Russia to "carry out such strikes and continue increasing their scale."
Earlier, Kyiv said Washington's "silence" over recent Russian attacks is encouraging Putin and urged "strong pressure", including tougher sanctions, on Moscow.
Sirens warning of incoming drones and missiles sounded again in many regions of Ukraine early on Monday. Several people across the country are known to have been injured, according to regional authorities.
Peskov said the latest massive aerial assaults were a response to Ukrainian attacks on what he called Russia's "social infrastructure."
The Russian defence ministry said on Monday morning that air defence systems destroyed 20 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions.
At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in Ukraine overnight Sunday after Russia fired 367 drones and missiles in what was the largest aerial attack since the start of the war.
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey late on Sunday, Trump said of Putin: "I've known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he's sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don't like it at all."
Asked about whether he was considering increasing US sanctions on Russia, Trump replied: "Absolutely." The US president has repeatedly threatened to do this before - but is yet to implement any restrictions against Moscow.
Trump posted his "crazy" remark shortly afterwards.
"I've always said that he wants all of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!"
But the US president also had strong words for Zelensky, saying that he "is doing his country no favours by talking the way he does."
"Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don't like it, and it better stop," Trump wrote of Zelensky.
Despite Kyiv's European allies preparing further sanctions for Russia, the US has said it will either continue trying to broker these peace talks, or "walk away" if progress does not follow.
Peskov said on Monday that Russia was "truly grateful" to the Americans and "personally to President Trump" for their help in organising and launching this negotiation process.
Last week, Trump and Putin had a two-hour phone call to discuss a US-proposed ceasefire deal to halt the fighting.
The US president said he believed the call had gone "very well", adding that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately start" negotiations toward a ceasefire and "an end to the war."
Ukraine has publicly agreed to a 30-day ceasefire.
Putin has only said Russia will work with Ukraine to craft a "memorandum" on a "possible future peace" - a move described by Kyiv and its European allies as delaying tactics.
The first direct Ukrainian-Russian talks since 2022 were held on 16 May in Istanbul, Turkey.
Aside from a major prisoner of war swap last week, there was little or no progress on bringing a pause in fighting closer.
Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory. This includes Crimea - Ukraine's southern peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.
🔄 Direct Translation Practice
📚 Key Vocabulary
⚔️ Military & Conflict
🗣️ Diplomacy & Politics
📝 Key Grammar Points
1. Present Perfect for Recent Actions
• "Something has happened to him."
Usage: Describes actions that happened in the recent past and have a connection to the present, or an action that started in the past and continues to the present.
2. Passive Voice for Emphasis on Action/Recipient
• "At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured"
Usage: Used when the focus is on the action itself or the person/thing experiencing the action, rather than who performed the action.
3. Phrases of Time and Quantity
• "At least 12 people were killed"
Usage: Clearly states a period of time during which an event occurred or specifies a minimum quantity.
4. Conditional Sentences (Type 1)
Usage: Expresses a real or very probable condition and its likely result in the future.
💡 Learning Tips
📖 Vocabulary Building
Focus on words related to international relations, military actions, and political statements. Try to find synonyms and antonyms for key terms like "sanctions" or "impunity."
🔗 Grammar Focus
Pay attention to the use of present perfect for ongoing or recent events. Practice constructing sentences in both active and passive voice to vary your writing and speaking.
📊 Reading Strategy
Identify the main actors and their actions/statements. Note how direct quotes are used to convey differing opinions (e.g., Trump vs. Peskov vs. Zelensky). This helps understand bias and perspectives.