US President Donald Trump has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin will seek revenge for Ukraine’s recent drone attack on Russian airbases. The attack, which targeted nuclear-capable long-range bombers, was carried out by Ukraine using smuggled drones. Trump said that Putin “did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields” during a phone call between the two leaders.
Phone Call Between Trump and Putin
The phone call, which lasted over an hour, marked the first conversation between the two leaders since the drone attack. Trump told Putin that the US was not warned in advance of the attack, according to Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov. Putin also told Trump that Ukraine has tried to “disrupt” negotiations and that the government in Kyiv has “essentially turned into a terrorist organisation,” according to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency.
Ukraine’s Response
Ukraine’s Minister of Strategic Industries, Yuriy Sak, said that his country had hoped the US would respond to the “incessant Russian missile and drone attacks” with “more sanctions and with more pressure.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media that “many have spoken with Russia at various levels,” but none of these talks have brought a reliable peace or stopped the war.
Upcoming Talks and Sanctions
A delegation of Ukrainian officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, were set to meet with US senators in Washington to discuss arms purchases and efforts to stop the fighting. The meeting comes after a second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul between the warring sides ended without a major breakthrough.
Iran Nuclear Deal
Trump and Putin also discussed Iran during the phone call, with Trump saying that he believed the two “were in agreement” that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” The US reportedly proposed that Iran halt all production of enriched uranium and rely on a regional consortium for supplies. Putin “suggested that he will participate in discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion,” according to Trump.