While the Kremlin downplayed Trump's remarks about Putin, pro-Kremlin bots have launched a smear campaign against the U.S. president. The online attacks suggest that Putin may be less than pleased with Trump's sudden shift in tone, despite the U.S. president recently describing their latest phone call as having gone "very well."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in comments about U.S. President Donald Trump's remark that Vladimir Putin was "playing with fire" by refusing to engage in ceasefire talks with Kyiv, said the national interest was paramount for the Russian leader.