Bangladesh, May 28 -- US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of “playing with fire” amid a series of increasingly confrontational exchanges between Washington and Moscow over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The pointed statement, delivered via Trumps Truth Social platform on May 27, comes just days after a reportedly “productive” phone call between the two leaders – suggesting a widening gap between diplomatic formalities and underlying tensions.

Trumps remarks mark a sharp departure from his earlier tone toward Putin, signaling growing frustration within the White House over what it views as Moscows intransigence in ongoing peace negotiations....