In a dramatic series of statements that surprised political observers and foreign policy experts alike, US President Donald Trump openly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for what he called a “completely unwarranted” escalation of military action in Ukraine. The remarks came on the heels of a particularly intense period in the ongoing conflict, during which Ukraine launched hundreds of drone attacks inside Russian territory, including a massive swarm that reportedly nearly reached President Putin’s helicopter during a visit to Kursk on May 20.

Despite these aggressive Ukrainian operations, Trump asserted that Russia’s retaliatory missile strikes were unjustified, describing Putin as having “gone absolutely CRAZY” and accusing Moscow of attacking Ukraine “for no reason whatsoever.”

The Ukrainian military’s strategy appears to have shifted in recent weeks toward a dramatic escalation in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Between May 20 and May 23 alone, Russian defense systems intercepted at least 764 drones, according to official reports. Hundreds more were reportedly neutralized over the weekend.

The sheer scale of these incursions has raised eyebrows, especially after reports emerged that a helicopter carrying President Putin was caught in the “epicenter” of one such drone swarm while traveling in Russia’s western Kursk region. Though the Russian leader was unharmed, the event marked a serious breach of Russian airspace and symbolized the growing reach of Ukrainian UAV capabilities.

In retaliation, Russia launched a series of missile strikes aimed at Ukraine’s drone and missile production facilities, including a major industrial plant in Kiev on May 25.........

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