Putin Will Take Revenge for Ukraine Attacks, Trump Warns
Synopsis
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to respond to Ukraine's recent drone strike on military airbases, President Donald Trump reported after an hour-long phone call between the two presidents. The call was their first…
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to respond to Ukraine's recent drone strike on military airbases, President Donald Trump reported after an hour-long phone call between the two presidents. The call was their first since June 1st, when Ukraine unexpectedly struck Russian nuclear-capable bombers.
Trump posted about the exchange on social media, cautioning that Putin "spoke very strongly" of having to respond to the airfield strikes. The US president warned that their conversation would not "lead to immediate peace" between the conflicting countries.
Ukraine Faces Moscow's Wrath
Russian state television quoted Putin as saying that Ukraine's leadership had "essentially become a terrorist organisation" in the conversation. In advance of the call, Moscow had also suggested that military action remained "on the table" as an option for responding to the drone attacks, but Russian officials avoided affirming Putin's reported threats against Trump.
The Ukrainian strike effectively hit what officials have termed nuclear-capable long-range bombers deployed deep within Russian territory. Ukraine Strategic Industries Minister Yuriy Sak said he was disappointed that the US had not reacted to "incessant Russian missile and drone attacks" with more sanctions and pressure.
Trump informed Putin that America had not been forewarned of Ukraine's operation, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said.
Peace Talks Remain Stalled
The talk comes after sustained diplomatic attempts that have produced little fruit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media, stating that in spite of several discussions with Russia "at different levels," none have resulted in solid peace or halted the conflict.
"If the world responds weakly to the threats from Putin, he sees it as a preparedness to turn a blind eye to his actions," Zelensky wrote, appearing to reference global responses to Russian escalation.
Fresh peace negotiations in Istanbul concluded without key breakthroughs, though the two sides did agree on more prisoner exchanges. Ukrainian negotiators reported Russia turned down calls for an "unconditional ceasefire" and instead suggested short-term multi-day ceasefires in unspecified sectors of the front line.
Iran Nuclear Issue Takes Center Stage
Trump-Putin phone call also touched on Iran's nuclear ambition, with the two allegedly concurring that Iran cannot have nuclear arms. Trump disclosed that Putin volunteered to engage Tehran in talks and could facilitate an agreement to a "sudden conclusion" on the issue.
The US has suggested Iran suspend all production of uranium enrichment and turn to regional producers instead. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, however, has dismissed the US offer, saying Iran will never abandon enriching uranium. Trump complained about Tehran's response, insisting on a “definitive answer in a very short period of time."
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At Inspirepreneurs Magazine, covering entrepreneurship, business failures, and the human stories behind the world's most ambitious founders. She writes at the intersection of strategy and storytelling.
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