DONALD Trump has blasted Vladimir Putin in a fierce condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine - demanding both sides "get to the table right now".
The US President issued a fiery rebuke of the Russians as they once again launched a huge blitz on Ukrainian civilians overnight.
Trump accused Vlad's forces of "pounding" the cities - and said he was considering a tough new regime of sanctions and tariffs.
His blasting post on Truth Social is his most direct attack on the Russians since he steered his new administration into the role of peacemaker.
The 78-year-old had been more focused on Ukraine and had been accused of taking a soft line on Russia as he brought them in from the cold - opening talks with the Kremlin.
In the latest unpredictable move from the Republican, he wrote: "Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.
"To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!"
The post has left the world stunned, given Trump’s history of warm rhetoric toward mad Vlad and his recent attacks on Zelensky's leadership.
And it comes exactly seven days after the two leaders engaged in an extraordinary Oval Office shouting match that resulted in Zelensky getting kicked out the White House.
Trump's past comments, including labelling the Ukrainian leader a "dictator," fuelled speculation that he was siding with Moscow, and he has previously cast doubt on continued US support for Ukraine.
This statement seemed to mark a decisive pivot, suggesting Trump is now willing to exert economic pressure on Russia to ensure long-term peace.
But, speaking in the Oval Office today, Trump suggested he understood Putin's decision to ramp up strikes on Ukraine.
Asked whether Russia was taking advantage of the US pulling military aid and intel sharing with Ukraine, Trump said: "I actually think he is doing what anybody else would do."
He explained: "I think he wants to get it stopped and settled and I think he's hitting them harder than he's been hitting them and I think probably anybody in that position would be doing that right now."
Ukraine and Europe have been working tirelessly this past week to bolster defence following Trump's halt on military aid and US intelligence sharing.
Yesterday, leaders gathered at an emergency EU summit in Brussels and signalled that a £670 billion war chest will be amassed to help Ukraine in the war against Russia.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen called it a "watershed moment" for Europe and Ukraine.
And British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that a "coalition of the willing" would come together and devise a peace plan to end the bloody war.
An overwhelming 20 countries are now lined up to join to protect against further Russian aggression.
Zelensky had proposed an aerial truce with Moscow following the overnight attack and having met with EU leaders at the summit yesterday.
In a social media post, Zelensky called for "silence in the skies - a ban on the use of missiles, long-range drones and bombs.
"And also silence at sea - a real guarantee of normal navigation."
Trump's post strongly condemning Putin comes as talks between American and Ukrainian delegations were arranged and are to take place in Saudi Arabia next week.
Zelensky revealed that he will be in Saudi Arabia next Monday to meet with the Crown Prince over peace talks.
His team will then stay in the Middle East to hold bombshell talks with US representatives as they look to find a breakthrough peace deal urgently.
The Truth Social post is in direct response to Russia's "massive missile and drone" strike on Ukrainian gas facilities throughout last night, causing Nato to desperately scramble its warplanes.
Mad dictator Putin sent up his Tu-95MS strategic bombers from an Arctic airfield to launch devastating strikes, impacting Ukrainian civilians.
The overnight missile blitz was the first since Ukrainians were left raging after Trump axed sharing intelligence - leaving Kyiv's troops "fighting blind".
The attack chillingly forced Poland to scramble jets to security its airspace, the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command confirmed.
The NATO warplanes were on alert to shoot down any Russian missiles entering Polish airspace as tensions continue to spiral between Europe, Russia and the US.
The world now waits with bated breath for Putin's response, after the Kremlin earlier threatened to respond to "confrontational rhetoric" from yesterday's emergency EU summit in Brussels.
Putin puppet Dmitry Peskov said in a news briefing: "The EU is now actively discussing its militarisation and specifically developing its defence sector.
"This is a process we’re watching closely because the EU presents Russia as the main adversary."
He further warned that the militarisation could cause Russia "to take relevant reciprocal measures to ensure our security".
Peskov added: "And of course, this confrontational rhetoric and discussions in Brussels and European capitals are seriously at odds with searching for ways of peaceful settlement in Ukraine.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also suggested that Nato could extend Article 5 protections to Ukraine without granting the war-torn country membership.
Meloni said that instead of just sending European peacekeepers to Ukraine, the continent must "think about more durable solutions".
The collective defence principle in Nato's Article 5 means member nations come to defence of any other member state in the event of an attack.
The Italian leader said: "It’s a different thing than entering Nato, but it implies extending the coverage that Nato countries have also to Ukraine."
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, the US, UK and EU alongside other countries like Australia, Canada and Japan have imposed over a whopping 21,000 sanctions on Putin's nation.
THE shocking White House bust up between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky plunged global politics into a whirlwind of a week.
Friday, February 28 - Trump and Zelensky's showdown
The Oval Office bust up between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky will go down in history.
Tensions exploded inside the White House as Trump yelled at Zelensky, accusing him of “gambling with World War Three” and calling him “ungrateful.”
The meeting - meant to finalise a critical minerals deal — descended into chaos at one point with all three men seen leaning forward, pointing fingers, and throwing their arms around in fury.
The fallout sent shockwaves through Washington.
And Trump’s ultimatum - “You either make a deal or we are out” - threw US support for Ukraine into doubt, with several meetings to follow in the week ahead to attempt to repair the fallout.
Saturday, March 1 - Starmer supports Zelensky
Zelensky jetted to London for talks with Sir Keir Starmer and Europe.
As they held talks, which would have included the Oval Office showdown, Starmer comforted Zelensky in saying that he has "full backing across the United Kingdom".
He then later announced £2.6 billion in loans to support the war-torn nation.
By the evening, Starmer was in "constructive" calls with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
He said that Ukraine's allies were "at a turning point in the conflict"
Sunday, March 2 - Europe rallies around Ukraine
A crucial security summit at Lancaster House was hosted by Starmer and saw dozens of nations attend to discuss US-Europe relations and the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.
The meeting, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, saw a major push for a new military alliance to guarantee Ukraine’s future.
Afterwards, Starmer announced that a "coalition of the willing" would come together and devise a peace plan to end the bloody war.
The Prime Minister warned that Europe had to step up and “do the heavy lifting” - while still scrambling for America’s “strong” backing.
Unveiling his battle plan for the war-torn country, the PM told a press conference: “This is not a moment for more talk. It’s time to act. Time to step up and lead, and to unite, around a new plan for a just and enduring peace.”
He unveiled a £1.6 billion finance deal to help Ukraine buy more than 5,000 missiles and vowed to keep the weapons flowing while ramping up economic pressure on Russia.
Monday, March 3 - Trump lashes out at Zelensky again
The start of the week saw Trump continue to pile pressure on Zelensky as his allegiance with Europe appeared to dwindle further away.
In a brutal Truth Social put down, Trump blasted Zelensky as a "guy who doesn’t want there to be peace".
The Republican was responding to a quote from the Ukrainian leader in which he said an end to the conflict with Russia is still "very, very far away".
Hours after the social media attack, Trump then paused all US military aid to Ukraine for the foreseeable future.
The shock freeze will continue until Zelensky's government shows a commitment to peace negotiations, a senior Trump administration official told Fox News.
Tuesday, March 4 - Zelensky "regrets" Trump fallout
Zelensky came out and public said he is ready to work "under Donald Trump" and "regrets" his brutal Oval Office row with the President.
Zelensky went on to share his own vision for peace that would involve bringing all parties to the table and included a ban on missiles and drones and releasing POWs.
He said in the bombshell X post that "none of us wants an endless war" and that "Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer."
Wednesday, March 5 - Trump reveals "olive branch" to Congress
As much of Europe woke up on Wednesday, Donald Trump's first historic address to Congress added another twist to the chaotic week.
In a fiery 100-minute speech, as he revealed he had received a letter from Zelensky and that Vladimir Putin was "ready for peace."
The commander-in-chief said the letter spoke about negotiations taking place as soon as possible.
The important US-Ukraine minerals deal was also ready to be signed, Trump said per Zelensky's words.
Thursday, March 6 - Europe gathers for key defence summit
A key emergency summit was held in Brussels on Thursday with European leaders to discuss the Ukraine war.
Dozens of prime ministers and presidents attended from Ukraine's Zelensky to France's Macron.
Images showed how the EU’s 27 leaders all held a working lunch with Zelensky before having separate press conferences outside.
Zelensky said he discussed strengthening his country's defence as well as negotiations for Kyiv's EU accession in the summit.
Friday, March 7 - Trump turns on Putin
Trump blasted Putin in a fierce condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine - demanding both sides "get to the table right now".
The US President issued a fiery rebuke of the Russians as they once again launched a huge blitz on Ukrainian civilians overnight.
In the latest unpredictable move from the Republican, he wrote: "Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.
"To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!"
The post has left the world stunned, given Trump’s history of warm rhetoric toward mad Vlad and his recent attacks on Zelensky's leadership.
