During a call today, US President Donald Trump revealed that Vladimir Putin warned him “very strongly” about responding to an attack on Russian airfields by Ukraine, stating that a peaceful resolution remains unlikely in the immediate future.
On Sunday, Kyiv’s widespread drone strikes resulted in the destruction of several nuclear-capable bombers valued at billions of dollars. This issue dominated the third call between the Russian and US presidents since Mr. Trump returned to office.
Prior to this, Mr. Putin seemed to dismiss any possibility of a ceasefire or direct negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Turkey has proposed to facilitate such talks and has also invited Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump stated on social media, “It was a good conversation, but not one that will lead to immediate peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”
The Kremlin characterized the call, which also addressed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, as “positive” and “productive.”
Ukraine launched a series of drone attacks in Russia last weekend, targeting Russian aircraft stationed at four airbases.
‘Why reward them?’
The US president has expressed increasing frustration toward Mr. Putin, labeling him “crazy” last week, as Russia continues its attacks, contradicting Mr. Trump’s campaign promise to conclude the war within 24 hours.
Mr. Putin’s conversation with Mr. Trump seems part of a diplomatic initiative by the Russian leader, who also spoke with Pope Leo XIV about the situation in Ukraine today.
The Kremlin reported that Mr. Putin told the pope he seeks peace through diplomatic means, but claimed that “the regime in Kyiv is relying on escalating the conflict and executing acts of sabotage against civil infrastructure on Russian soil.”
Mr. Putin previously accused Ukraine of executing “terrorist” attacks on bridges in Russian regions near the border over the weekend, one of which resulted in a train derailing and causing seven fatalities.
He argued that a ceasefire would only provide Kyiv the opportunity to rearm.
“Why reward them with a respite from combat, which will be used to fuel their regime with Western arms, continue mobilization efforts, and plan further terrorist actions?” Mr. Putin stated at a televised government meeting.
Ukraine has been advocating for an unconditional and immediate 30-day ceasefire, presenting its most recent proposal to Moscow during peace talks in Istanbul on Monday.
‘Ultimatum’
President Zelensky disclosed earlier today that Russia delivered an “ultimatum” to Ukraine and reiterated previous demands in Turkey, where an agreement was only reached on large-scale prisoner exchanges.
Moscow’s terms include Ukraine fully withdrawing from four regions—Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—that Russia claims to have annexed but does not fully control.
Mr. Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine is prepared “any day” for a meeting proposed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which would also involve the US and Russian leaders.
The White House indicated that Mr. Trump is “open” to such a meeting.
As the conflict persists well into its third year, one of Europe’s largest conflicts since World War II has claimed tens of thousands of lives on both sides as they engage in direct talks in search of a resolution.
Ukrainian forces have faced months of challenges on the battlefield as Russian troops continue to advance through critical areas of the extensive frontline.
The Russian military announced the capture of another village in Ukraine’s Sumy border region, aiming to create what it refers to as a “buffer zone” within Ukrainian territory.
Kyiv has been striving to secure ongoing support assurances from Washington. On Wednesday, senior aide to Zelensky Andriy Yermak met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington.
Ukrainian refugees in Europe
The European Commission has proposed to extend the right of Ukrainian refugees to remain in the EU for another year, while clearly indicating that this special status will eventually come to an end.
The Commission stated that the protections awarded by the 27-nation bloc after Moscow’s invasion in February 2022, which currently supports 4.3 million Ukrainians, should last until March 2027.
Simultaneously, it recommended that member states start “paving the way for transitioning out of temporary protection once the necessary conditions are met.”
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, claimed that the West is involved, both directly and indirectly, in “terrorist attacks” carried out by Ukraine against civilian targets in Russia.
According to Ms. Zakharova, Western nations, NATO, and “the collective West” provide weapons and coordinates for these attacks.
Mr. Trump’s envoy to Ukraine indicated that the chance of escalation in the conflict has “increased significantly” following the Ukrainian drone strikes on nuclear-capable bombers at various airbases deep into Russian territory.
US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, expressed particular concern over unverified reports of a Ukrainian strike on a naval base in northern Russia.
Ukraine stated it targeted airfields in Siberia and northern Russia over the weekend, hitting locations up to 4,300 km from the frontline.
“I’m telling you, the risk levels are rising—especially after what occurred this weekend,” Mr. Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, told Fox News.
“In the realm of national security, when you strike an opponent’s vital national infrastructure—specifically their nuclear triad—you elevate the risk because the other side’s actions become uncertain.”
Both Russia and the United States collectively hold about 88% of all global nuclear weapons.
Each nation possesses three primary delivery systems for nuclear warheads, known as the nuclear triad: strategic bombers, land-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
Mr. Kellogg remarked that the physical damage inflicted on Russian bombers this past weekend is less critical than the psychological repercussions for Russia, and he raised concerns about unverified reports of a Ukrainian assault on a naval base in northern Russia.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated yesterday that Mr. Trump had not received advance notice regarding Ukraine’s drone operations targeting Russian bombers.
