Trump says he spoke to Putin about Ukrainian attacks

US President Donald Trump has said he held a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to discuss the Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airbases.

Ukrainian drones hit multiple Russian airbases on Monday in a coordinated assault. Targets ranged from Murmansk in the Arctic to Irkutsk in Siberia. Kiev claims the strikes damaged or destroyed approximately 40 Russian military aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers. Moscow has not verified these claims, stating that most of the incoming drones were intercepted.

Reports suggest the attack was executed using explosive-laden drones launched from commercial trucks that had been covertly brought into Russian territory.

Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, writing that the call with Putin lasted more than an hour, describing it as “a good conversation.”

“We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides,” he wrote, noting, however, it was “not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.”

Trump added that the Russian president “did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”

Key statements from Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov following the phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump:

🔹Putin has informed Trump that Ukraine had attempted to derail negotiations, but Moscow did not succumb to provocations;

🔹Putin has emphasized that the Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul were useful;

🔹The Kiev regime has effectively become a terrorist organization;

🔹The leaders did not discuss memoranda for resolving the Ukraine conflict;

🔹Russia believes that a meeting between Putin and Ukraine’s Zelenskyy has never been on the table;

🔹Trump has told Putin that the US had not been informed by Ukraine about its plans to strike Russian airfields;

🔹Trump has told Putin that he would appreciate if Russia could work with Iran as a party to the nuclear deal;

🔹Putin and Trump have exchanged views on prospects for restoring cooperation between the countries, which has great potential;

🔹The presidents have described their exchange as positive and productive;

🔹The leaders have agreed to continue contacts on Ukraine at the highest level and through other channels.