Trump Says Putin Will Retaliate Against Ukraine After Drone Attack
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- Jun 4
- 3 min read
No immediate peace expected, says U.S. president after call with Russian leader
Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Right Leaning
Why: The reporting centers on Donald Trump’s perspective and quotes from Truth Social without immediate counterbalance or broader international reactions, aligning with conservative narratives.
Trump-Putin Call Focuses on Ukraine and Iran
President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for over an hour on Wednesday. In a statement posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump reported that Putin strongly signaled a retaliatory response to Ukraine’s recent drone attack on Russian air bases.
According to Trump, “It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.” He added that Putin was firm in his position that Russia must respond to Sunday’s drone strike targeting docked Russian aircraft.
Trump's statement suggests the conversation failed to open a path to ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has been ongoing since early 2022.
Ukraine’s Drone Strike and Russia’s Warning
On Sunday, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Russian airfields. The attack reportedly caused damage to Russian military infrastructure, particularly docked aircraft.
In response, Putin told Trump that retaliation was necessary. The Kremlin, through Putin aide Yuri Ushakov, accused Ukraine of undermining ongoing peace negotiations. Ushakov added that Putin informed Trump that the United States had not been briefed in advance about Ukraine’s drone plans.
Peace Talks Still in Motion
Despite rising tensions, negotiations continue between Russia and Ukraine. Delegations from both countries met in Istanbul on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia presented Ukraine with an “ultimatum,” not a workable ceasefire proposal.
Zelenskyy also stated he was open to further talks involving Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In parallel, a Ukrainian delegation met in Washington with U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. The nature of their discussions has not been detailed, but they are expected to cover defense cooperation and diplomatic developments.
Civilian Casualties Continue
While diplomacy struggles to move forward, fighting on the ground remains intense. Over the past 24 hours, Russian strikes in Ukraine killed at least four civilians and injured more than a dozen. Ukraine has also stepped up its offensive tactics, including recent strikes on bridges, such as the one connecting Russia to Crimea, a territory Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Trump Discusses Iran with Putin
Trump also said his conversation with Putin included a discussion on Iran's nuclear program. According to the president, Putin offered to assist in bringing the negotiations to a quick resolution.
Trump criticized Iran for delaying its decision-making and called for a firm outcome in the near future. These remarks mark a shift in tone, as Trump has typically reserved harsh criticism for Iran while emphasizing diplomacy through strength.
No Comment from the White House
As of publication, the White House has not issued any formal response to Trump’s statements or the nature of the Trump-Putin call. Trump, who remains a leading figure in the Republican Party and a contender in the 2024 election, continues to shape foreign policy discourse despite not holding office.
He recently stated that the U.S. would likely know “within two weeks” whether Putin is genuinely interested in ending the war in Ukraine. That comment now appears less optimistic following Wednesday’s call.
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