U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning a response to a major Ukrainian drone assault on Russian airbases, which took place on June 1.
Following a phone conversation with Putin that lasted over an hour, Trump posted on social media that the Russian leader had expressed his intent to retaliate. “President Putin said, very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,” Trump stated. He added that the conversation was unlikely to bring about immediate peace between Russia and Ukraine.
According to Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency, Putin accused Ukraine of trying to derail diplomatic efforts and labeled the Kyiv government as having “essentially turned into a terrorist organisation.” The agency also reported that both leaders exchanged views on the potential for restoring bilateral cooperation, which they agreed held “enormous potential.”
This phone call marked the first direct communication between Trump and Putin since Ukraine launched a surprise drone offensive on Russian airbases, reportedly targeting nuclear-capable long-range bombers.
The Kremlin later stated that Trump had informed Putin the United States had no prior knowledge of the Ukrainian strike.
Last week, Trump appeared to issue a two-week ultimatum to Putin, suggesting that U.S. support for the Russian leader’s peace overtures could shift if significant progress wasn’t made. In previous remarks, Trump criticized Putin, calling him “absolutely crazy” and accused him of “playing with fire” amid escalating Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian targets.
However, Trump made no mention of the deadline or his earlier comments in his latest Truth Social post.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak visited Washington on Wednesday for discussions with U.S. senators. Topics included defense support, arms procurement, and sanctions against Russia, as well as Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.
The diplomatic flurry comes just days after a second round of peace talks in Istanbul concluded without major progress. While the two sides agreed to another prisoner swap, Russia reportedly rejected Ukraine’s call for an unconditional ceasefire—a key demand of Kyiv and its Western allies. Instead, Moscow proposed limited ceasefires in specific frontline areas, though no details were provided. Despite the continuing conflict, Trump has repeatedly insisted that both sides are making progress toward a resolution.
nttyzrjpotngnrtjeqwfjhmjqponre
hotmxgxyydhzrydvfmuvnngremlnwq