Russian President Vladimir Putin informed US President Donald Trump on Wednesday that Russia would have to react toughly to recent Ukrainian drone attacks, Trump said. The two presidents spoke about Russian airfield attacks and other military operations by both sides, but Trump characterized the discussion as “good” though not likely to result in an immediate peace deal.
Putin was said to have insisted that Russia “will have to respond” to Ukraine’s attacks on its air bases. Previously, Moscow had said that military options were “on the table” as a response to strikes deep within Russian territory. Russia also blamed Western nations, led by the US and Britain, for complicity and urged them to rein in Kyiv.
In spite of the attacks, Ukrainian authorities celebrated the strikes as evidence Kyiv can still hold out after over three years of war. Western authorities stated they had not been informed about the weekend attacks on Russian nuclear-capable bombers before their occurrence.
Putin also questioned peace talks in a televised session with top officials. He denounced recent bombings of bridges in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions, killing seven and injuring more than 100. The bridge bombings, carried out just before peace negotiations in Turkey, hit civilian targets, Russian investigators say.
Putin condemned the leadership in Kyiv as having degenerated into a “terrorist organization,” classifying its foreign patrons as accomplices. “The regime of current Kyiv does not desire peace,” he claimed, deeming the negotiations with people “who are based on terror” pointless. He threatened that a ceasefire will only be used by the West to re-equip Ukraine.
Ukraine has made no statements regarding the bridge attacks. The rising rhetoric reflects the increasing distrust and problems which face any hope of peace between the two countries.
