Trump Says Putin Signaled Russia Will Respond to Ukraine Drone Attack
Russian leader discussed his intent to respond, and Iran, during a phone call that lasted more than an hour, Trump says
Updated June 4, 2025 The Wall Street Journal
Key Points
Trump stated that the conversation with Putin was good, but won’t lead to immediate peace.
WASHINGTON—President Trump said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him he would have to respond to Ukraine’s recent attack, saying there isn’t likely to be immediate peace between Moscow and Kyiv.
“President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,” Trump posted on Truth Social, saying the two leaders spoke on a call that lasted about one hour and 15 minutes. The two also discussed Iran, with Trump saying the two leaders were in agreement that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon.
It is unclear whether Trump urged Putin not to launch a retaliatory attack on Ukraine, as the president’s goal is to see the long-running war end.
Over the weekend, Ukraine launched clandestine drone attacks on four military airports inside Russia, delivering the biggest blow of the war against Moscow’s long-range bomber fleet.
Trump said the call was “a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.”
The drone strikes cast a cloud over ongoing talks between Russia and Ukraine. The two nations sent low-level delegations to meet in Istanbul on Monday for just over an hour.
Trump said Putin told him he would have to respond to Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russia’s bomber fleet.
Trump said he and Putin spoke for over an hour and discussed Iran’s nuclear program.