Russian President Putin Vows Harsh Retaliation for Ukrainian Drone Strikes, Trump Warns No “Immediate Peace” Ahead

Russian President Putin Vows Harsh Retaliation for Ukrainian Drone Strikes, Trump Warns No “Immediate Peace” Ahead

 

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged a forceful response to Ukraine’s recent drone attacks on Russian military targets, according to U.S. President Donald Trump, who spoke with the Kremlin leader for over an hour in a phone call on Wednesday.

 

In remarks following the call, Trump revealed that Putin “very strongly” signaled his intention to retaliate after Ukraine launched a daring drone offensive earlier this week on Russian airbases.

 

Ukrainian forces claimed they destroyed several Russian nuclear-capable bombers in the operation, which reportedly inflicted billions of dollars in damage.

 

“It was a good conversation, but not one that will lead to immediate peace,” Trump said, describing the 75-minute call with Putin. “President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”

 

The Kremlin has not yet released details of its potential response, but the escalation underscores mounting tensions as the war in Ukraine continues well into its third year. Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and fighting has intensified in recent months despite repeated international calls for a ceasefire.

 

President Trump, who has long promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of re-entering the Oval Office — though without a concrete plan — acknowledged that a swift resolution remains elusive. He stopped short of saying whether he had warned Putin against striking back at Ukraine, which has received billions in military and financial aid from Washington.

 

The former president’s close ties to Putin and skeptical stance toward NATO and U.S. support for Kyiv have frequently raised concerns among allies. His past meetings and comments — including a high-profile clash in the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — have drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle.

 

Despite the growing animosity between Moscow and Kyiv, the Trump-Putin call offered a glimpse of possible cooperation between Washington and Moscow on another pressing global issue: Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

 

Trump said both leaders agreed that Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. He added that Putin expressed willingness to join diplomatic efforts to revive talks with Tehran, which have stalled amid Western accusations that Iran is delaying a decision on Washington’s latest proposal.

 

“President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion,” Trump said.

 

The Kremlin, in a separate statement on Tuesday, confirmed that Putin had offered Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Moscow’s assistance in advancing nuclear negotiations. However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pushed back, declaring that Washington’s offer runs counter to Tehran’s national interests.

 

As tensions spike in both Eastern Europe and the Middle East, analysts caution that the dual flashpoints — Ukraine and Iran — could rapidly evolve into broader geopolitical crises unless diplomatic efforts gain traction.

 

For now, all eyes are on Moscow’s next move following Putin’s vow to respond “drastically” to Ukraine’s attacks — a promise that may yet further darken the prospect of peace in the region.