'Turn up the heat': Trump shares editorial critical of Putin; move amid failing Russia-Ukraine talks

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) amplified pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin by sharing a sharply worded editorial that urges Washington to abandon concessions and adopt a tougher line against Moscow. The move came amid mounting frustration over stalled Ukraine peace efforts.

The editorial titled Putin ‘attack’ bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace and published in New York Post said that Russia was "opposing Trump’s agenda" across the world. It further asked to avoid giving the country "more concessions" and opt for a "bigger stick."






"The answer should not be more concessions, but a bigger stick. Kyiv has done its part. The onus should be on Putin to step up or face more stringent sanctions and more deadly weapons in Ukraine," the editorial said.

"Despite his defiance, Putin’s actions smack of a deteriorating internal situation. His economy is stagnating. Propaganda is flailing as soldiers return with missing limbs. His victory is neither imminent nor inevitable. Spare us his crocodile tears and turn up the heat," it said.

The editorial points to Trump’s upbeat assessment earlier in the week following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on advances toward a peace agreement, and contrasts it with the setback that followed on Monday after Trump’s phone call with Putin, during which the Russian leader said Moscow would harden its stance in the talks, citing an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on one of his residences.

Pointing out Putin's support for Iran, the editorial said, "Look beyond Ukraine. Russia has long supported Iran, and this week launched three communications satellites for the Islamic regime. It urged 'restraint' as Trump threatened to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities again. Putin backs the corrupt, drug-smuggling Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela, and opposes Trump’s operations there."

Russian authorities on Thursday accused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack that left 24 people dead and at least 50 injured during New Year celebrations in a Russian-held village in Ukraine’s Kherson region, underscoring the sharp escalation in hostilities even as diplomats spoke of progress in peace efforts.

Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said that Russia has carried its nearly four-year-long war into the New Year by launching more than 200 drones at Ukraine, with the attacks largely aimed at the country’s energy facilities.

"Russia deliberately brings war into the New Year -– launching more than two hundred attack drones against Ukraine overnight," he