Trump, Putin discuss Ukrainian attack on Russian airfield
3 Min Read
US President Donald Trump says he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for over an hour, discussing Ukraine's attacks on Russian airfields. Putin reportedly warned of a response.
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This combination photo shows President Donald Trump in a business roundtable, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a signing ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, May 10, 2025. (AP)
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, lasting approximately one hour and 15 minutes. The discussion reportedly focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, including recent Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian military aircraft.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the two leaders discussed “the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides.”
❗️Trump and Putin hold phone call
— RT (@RT_com) June 4, 2025
– Call lasted 1h15m
– Russia ‘will have to respond’ to airfield attacks
– Putin could help broker Iran deal
Trump says ‘it was a good conversation’ pic.twitter.com/zxgALoZdbx
Trump stated that although the exchange was constructive, it was “not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.” He emphasized that President Putin was clear in expressing Russia’s intention to respond to the escalation. “President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,” Trump added.
The two leaders also reportedly discussed Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Trump warned that time is running out on Iran’s decision regarding nuclear weapons and insisted that Iran cannot be allowed to obtain one.
He claimed that Putin agreed with this position and even offered to help facilitate talks with Iran to reach a swift resolution. “It is my opinion that Iran has been slow walking their decision on this very important matter,” Trump wrote, adding that “we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time.”
Trump later deleted the post from his Truth Social account without offering an explanation.
Trump not briefed on Ukraine drone strikes, White House claims
In this context, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated yesterday that Trump was not briefed in advance about Ukraine’s drone strikes on Russian airfields.
“He was not,” Leavitt said in response to a question about whether Trump had been informed by Ukrainian officials before the attacks.
On Sunday, a military facility in Russia’s Irkutsk Region came under drone attack, marking what local officials say is the first such strike in Siberia. Regional Governor Igor Kobzev confirmed that drones targeted the area near the settlement of Sredny, roughly 150 kilometers from Lake Baikal and 70 kilometers from the regional capital, Irkutsk.
One of the drones also reportedly struck an abandoned building in the nearby village of Novomaltinsk, according to Kobzev. He stated that the drones were launched from a small truck, although the total number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) involved remains unconfirmed. Footage circulating on social media, so far unverified, suggests that at least three drones were used in the operation.
Ukrainian security sources told CBS News that Ukraine’s "large-scale" drone attack penetrated deep into Russian territory, destroying military bombers and striking five bases. The attack, personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, took a year and a half of planning.
Read more: Ukraine missile disadvantage grows, as Russia ramps up attacks
