Russian President Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump yesterday that he would have to respond to high-profile Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s nuclear-capable bomber fleet and a deadly bridge bombing that Moscow blamed on Kyiv.
The war in Ukraine is intensifying after nearly four months of cajoling and threats to both Moscow and Kyiv from Trump, who says he wants peace after more than three years of the deadliest conflict in Europe since the Second World War.
After Ukraine bombed bridges and attacked Russia’s fleet of nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia and Russia’s far north, Putin yesterday said he did not think Ukraine’s leaders wanted peace.
Shortly after Putin discussed the attacks with top ministers in Moscow, Trump said he had spoken by telephone with Putin for one hour and 15 minutes, and that they had discussed the Ukrainian attacks and Iran.
“We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace,” Trump said on social media.
Russia has unleashed several massive aerial attacks on Ukraine over recent weeks.
“President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,” Trump said, adding that he hoped Putin could be helpful in US negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme.
Trump said he believed Putin agreed with Washington that Iran ‘cannot have a nuclear weapon’, and accused Tehran of ‘slowwalking’ decisions regarding the talks.
The Kremlin said Trump had told Putin that Washington was not informed in advance of the Ukrainian attacks.
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