U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader communicated his intention to respond "very strongly" to Ukraine's weekend drone attacks on Russian airfields. This phone conversation occurred amidst a prolonged deadlock in the war, which has lasted nearly 3 1/2 years.
In a social media post, Trump characterized the call as a "good conversation" but noted that it would not immediately result in peace. This was his first public commentary on Ukraine's bold drone attack within Russian territory. The White House clarified that the U.S. had no prior knowledge of the operation, a detail Trump highlighted during his call with Putin, as reported by Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov.
The Trump-Putin conversation took place while the U.S. was actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to establish a peace agreement. Though Trump did not disclose his reaction to Putin's threats of retaliation, his tone reflected none of the recent frustrations he has expressed towards the Russian president regarding the ongoing conflict.
In response to the call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to social media, stating that discussions with Russia at various levels have failed to produce reliable peace or cease the war, criticizing Putin's perceived sense of impunity. Zelenskyy urged for increased pressure on Russia, claiming that its planned retaliation signifies a continued disregard for global calls for restraint.
Andrii Yermak, a top adviser to Zelenskyy, echoed this sentiment during a briefing in Washington, asserting that Russia only understands strength and lacks the political will to end the conflict. However, Yermak indicated that Ukraine remains open to negotiations, despite the current challenges.
Despite Trump’s previous commitments to end the war promptly, his recent statements show a loss of patience, publicly pleading with Putin to cease hostilities and even labeling him as "absolutely CRAZY." Nonetheless, Trump has not endorsed a bipartisan initiative to impose further sanctions on Russia, indicating a complex relationship with the ongoing war efforts.
This phone call marked Trump’s first communication with Putin since May 19. The two leaders also addressed other international concerns during their conversation, including Iran's nuclear program and potential diplomatic engagements with Tehran. It remains unclear if Trump plans to connect with Zelenskyy following this call, as the White House had not provided a response by Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier on the same day, Zelenskyy dismissed Russia's ceasefire conditions as an "ultimatum" and reiterated his call for direct discussions with Putin to resolve the stalemate. However, Putin expressed refusal to meet, citing recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure as a barrier to any summit meetings.
Putin accused Ukraine of aiming for a truce solely to bolster its military capabilities for future offensives. Additionally, he spoke with Pope Leo XIV, who has pledged to do all in his power to assist in ending the conflict, emphasizing the necessity for dialogue.
Military actions have continued unabated amidst stalled diplomatic discussions. Ukraine's Security Service detailed a recent drone strike on Russian air bases, claiming significant destruction of aircraft. They released footage demonstrating the drones' capabilities, which combine operator control with artificial intelligence for targeting.
Moreover, Ukraine's security agency mentioned causing an explosion beneath the strategically vital Kerch Bridge, connecting Russia to Crimea, although Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed there was no damage from this incident. On the battlefield, Russian troops reported taking control of additional areas in Ukraine's Sumy region, asserting their intentions to establish a buffer zone to mitigate cross-border attacks.
