Wednesday, June 4, 2025
by Joey Garrison/USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin told him during a June 4 call that he planned to retaliate against Ukraine's recent surprise drone attack that destroyed dozens of Russian bombers.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, described the 75-minute phone call with Putin as a "good conversation" but added it was "not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace."
"We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes by Ukraine," Trump said, referring to the most damaging Ukrainian attack on Russia in the three years since Moscow invaded. He said they also discussed "various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides."
"President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump said.
The call was the first time Trump has spoken to Putin since he publicly warned the Russian president last week that he was "playing with fire" by attacking Ukraine amid peace talks.
Trump has so far resisted imposing sanctions on Russia. And since returning to the White House, Trump has placed equal blame on Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Russia's war and for prolonging the conflict.
Ukrainian intelligence said the coordinated drone strikes carried out June 1 took a $7 billion toll on Russia's military and demolished more than a third of Moscow's strategic cruise missile carriers, including planes capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
The stunning attack came after Russian forces launched a deadly barrage of hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities on May 25, prompting Trump to say Putin has "gone absolutely crazy." Later, Trump warned that Putin is "playing with fire" by refusing to engage in ceasefire talks.
Trump has struggled to mediate meaningful peace negotiations between Putin and Zelenskyy. After Trump held a two-hour phone call with Putin on May 15, Trump said conditions for the next round of peace talks would be "negotiated between the two parties."
Recounting his June 4 call with Putin, Trump said they also discussed Iran, which has just dismissed a proposal from the Trump administration for a deal that would prevent it from developing potential nuclear weapons technology. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected a central U.S. demand that Iran abandon uranium enrichment, calling it "100%" against the country's interests.
"I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement," Trump said, adding that Putin suggested during that call that he participate in the discussions with Iran.
"It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!" Trump said.
Contributing: Reuters and Cybele Mayes-Osterman of USA TODAY.
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