Trump Talks with Putin About Ukraine Drone Attacks

On Wednesday, Russian leader Vladimir Putin told U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia must answer after Ukraine used drones to attack Russian airfields. Trump posted this information on his social media.

This was their second phone call in a short time. Trump said the call was "good," but it will not bring peace right away. He said Putin feels very strong about what Ukraine is doing and wants to react.

Trump said they talked about attacks on Russian planes and other fighting by both countries. He said the call was helpful, but not enough to stop the war now.

Earlier, peace talks between Russia and Ukraine did not work. Trump says he helped bring both sides together in the past.

A Russian official said that Putin told Trump Ukraine is trying to stop peace by hitting cities. Both Trump and Putin said they will keep talking about the war in Ukraine.

New videos show that Ukrainian drones hit many Russian planes. Trump also said he spoke with Putin about Iran. He said Iran must choose not to make nuclear weapons soon. Trump believes Putin can help with Iran talks too.

Trump: Putin Signals Retaliation for Ukrainian Drone Strikes

During a phone call on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin informed former U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia intends to respond to recent Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Russian airfields. The strikes, which reportedly damaged multiple aircraft, occurred over the weekend. Trump later disclosed details of the conversation on his Truth Social platform.

This was the second dialogue between the two leaders in recent weeks. Trump characterized the call as “good,” though he conceded it would not bring immediate peace. He added that Putin spoke “very strongly” about the necessity of reacting to Ukraine’s actions but did not clarify whether Putin was considering de-escalation or further military action.

Trump stated, “We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides.” While optimistic about ongoing communication, Trump noted the conversation was unlikely to produce short-term resolution. He previously said he would allow two weeks to judge Putin’s seriousness about peace, but offered no specifics on how he would make that assessment.

Earlier in the week, face-to-face peace negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Istanbul ended without a breakthrough. Trump claimed partial credit for facilitating the talks. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said Putin believes Ukraine is undermining the peace process through strikes on civilian areas. Both leaders reportedly agreed to keep communication channels open.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s SBU released footage showing drones damaging or destroying 41 Russian aircraft. The call occurred as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian officials to reaffirm U.S. support for a ceasefire, though stopping short of unlimited military aid. Concerns in Washington have grown over a potential Russian retaliation.

Trump Reports Putin's Intent to Retaliate Following Ukrainian Drone Assaults

In a recent telephone conversation on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly conveyed to U.S. President Donald Trump Russia's imperative to respond to recent Ukrainian drone attacks, which specifically targeted Russian airfields over the preceding weekend. President Trump subsequently disseminated details of their dialogue via his social media platform, Truth Social.

This exchange marked the second direct communication between the two leaders in recent weeks. Trump characterized the discussion as "good," yet conceded it would not precipitate immediate peace. He underscored Putin's "very strong" insistence on the necessity of a response to Ukraine's actions, though Trump refrained from disclosing whether he urged de-escalation or consideration of a ceasefire. "We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides," Trump wrote. "It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace." This comes as Trump has hitherto resisted calls for more stringent sanctions against Russia.

Earlier in the week, direct peace negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul concluded without substantive breakthroughs. Notwithstanding the protracted progress, Trump has asserted responsibility for orchestrating these meetings. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that Putin apprised Trump of the latest negotiation round, accusing Ukraine of attempting to undermine the talks through targeting civilian infrastructure. Both leaders, Ushakov noted, committed to sustaining dialogue on the Ukraine conflict through diverse channels.

Neither President Trump nor the White House has issued robust public statements concerning the weekend's drone strikes. This contrasts with Trump's past criticisms of Putin following Russian missile barrages on Ukrainian cities. Concurrently, recently released footage from Ukraine's SBU showcased Ukrainian drones successfully striking multiple Russian aircraft at various airfields, with Ukrainian officials claiming 41 aircraft, including bombers and surveillance planes, were damaged or destroyed.

The Trump-Putin call occurred contemporaneously with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's meeting in Washington with Andriy Yermak, a senior Ukrainian official. Rubio was anticipated to affirm U.S. support for a Ukrainian ceasefire but would not revert to the open-ended military provisions of the Biden administration. Post-meeting, Yermak indicated discussions centered on enhancing Ukraine's air defense capabilities. The deepening penetration of Ukrainian drone strikes into Russian territory has indeed generated palpable tension within Washington, with some officials voicing concern regarding potential provocative Russian responses.

During the call, Trump also revealed discussions concerning Iran with Putin. He underscored the urgency surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, stipulating a swift decision against nuclear weapons development. Trump stated a shared conviction with Putin that Iran must not possess nuclear armaments. He further speculated that Putin might join future Iranian negotiations to expedite a resolution, opining, "It is my opinion that Iran has been slow-walking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!" Ushakov corroborated the Iran discussion, noting Trump's belief in the potential utility of Russian assistance.