Trump warns Putin ‘will respond’ to Ukraine drone attack

Vladimir Putin has warned Donald Trump he “will have to respond” to Ukraine’s drone strike on some if its most important bomber bases.

Donald Trump said he held a phone call with Vladimir Putin who warned him “very strongly” that Russia would have to respond to Ukraine’s audacious attack this week.

“It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace,” the US president said on Wednesday, US time.

Ukraine said it attacked 41 Russian planes across four airfields in a daring attack, codenamed Operation Spider’s Web, on June 1.

Various commentators within Russia have said that the destruction of long range bombers that can carry nuclear weapons is grounds for using nuclear weapons on Ukraine. However, nuclear sabre rattling is common after major Ukrainian attacks.

Russia could ratchet up its conventional attacks with more missiles and drones. Ukraine’s air defences are already stretched.

Vladimir Putin said “very strongly” Russia would have to respond to Ukraine’s attack. Picture: Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool/AP

Mr Trump said the call with Mr Putin lasted around one hour and 15 minutes.

“We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked aeroplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides,” Mr Trump wrote on social media.

“It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.

“President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”

Ukraine and Russia have now held two recent rounds of peace talks which have led to the exchange of prisoners. But the two remain far apart when it comes to grounds for compromise.

Mr Trump previously said he had given Mr Putin a two week deadline to get to a meaningful point to stopping the conflict. But no mention of that deadline, which is not yet up, was made.

Ukraine claimed it bombed 41 strategic bombers in the operation. Picture: Security Service of Ukraine

Various commentators within Russia have said that the destruction of a number of long range bombers that can carry nuclear weapons is grounds for using nuclear weapons on Ukraine. Picture: Security Service of Ukraine

‘Time is running out’
Mr Trump also said the two discussed Iran where the US is trying to stop Tehran from building a nuclear weapon.

“Time is running out on Iran’s decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!” he wrote.

“I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.

“President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.”

Mr Trump said in his opinion, “Iran has been slow walking their decision on this very important matter.

“We will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!”

Footage shows drone after drone hammering Russia's nuclear bomber fleet. Picture: Security Service of Ukraine

Many have said that Russia has also been slow walking Ukraine peace talks with Moscow refusing to sign up to a 30 day ceasefire.

The Kremlin described the call as “positive” and “productive”, adding that Mr Trump had told Mr Putin that Washington was not informed in advance about the drone strikes.

Mr Trump made no mention of whether he had warned Mr Putin off retaliating against US ally Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February 2022, sparking a grinding war.

The US president has repeatedly alarmed Kyiv and its supporters in Europe and elsewhere by pivoting towards Mr Putin, and he had a blazing Oval Office row with Volodymyr Zelensky in February.

Mr Trump has however also shown growing frustration with Putin – last week calling him “crazy” – as Russia has continued attacks and derailed Trump’s campaign pledge to end the war within 24 hours.

Mr Trump said the call with Mr Putin lasted around one hour and 15 minutes. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP

‘Ultimatum’

Mr Zelensky said earlier on Wednesday that Russia had handed Ukraine an “ultimatum” and recycled old demands in Turkey, where the only concrete agreement was on a series of large-scale prisoner exchanges.

Moscow’s demands included Ukraine fully pulling out of four regions – Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia – that Russia claims to have annexed but does not have full control over.

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine was ready “any day” for a meeting proposed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that would also include the US and Russian leaders.

The White House said Mr Trump is “open” to such a meeting.

– With AFP

Originally published as Trump warns Putin ‘will respond’ to Ukraine drone attack