Trump: Putin will respond to Ukrainian drone attack on Russian bombers

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last night about Ukraine and Iran, warning that the Kremlin leader has "very strongly" committed to responding to Kyiv's stunning drone attack on Russian bombers, AFP reported.

Trump said there was no "immediate peace" on the horizon in Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022, following what he described as a one-hour and fifteen-minute conversation with the Russian president.

Regarding Iran, Trump said Putin offered to "participate" in talks on Tehran's nuclear program, as Trump accused the Islamic Republic of a "slow" response to Washington's offer for a deal.

The call came three days after Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Russian military air bases, saying it destroyed several billion-dollar Russian nuclear bombers.

Trump said he and Putin "discussed Ukraine's attack on Russian planes on the ground, as well as various other attacks that have occurred on both sides".

"It was a good conversation, but not one that will lead to immediate peace. President Putin said, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump stated in his post.

Trump did not say whether he warned Putin of any retaliation against Ukraine.

Definitive Response

The Republican has repeatedly alarmed Kyiv and Western allies by appearing to side with Putin over the war, and had a heated Oval Office argument with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump has also shown growing frustration with Putin, as Russia has so far thwarted his efforts to fulfill his campaign promise to end the war within 24 hours, and he has never explained how this could be achieved.

However, the conversation between Trump and Putin showed that Washington and Moscow may be looking at cooperation on another key global issue – Iran.

Trump said he believes they both "agree" that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, and that time is running out for Tehran to respond to American offers for a deal.

"President Putin suggested that he would participate in talks with Iran and that, perhaps, he could be helpful in bringing this to a quick conclusion," Trump said.

"My opinion is that Iran is slowing down its decision on this very important matter and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!"

Putin told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian that Moscow is ready to help advance negotiations on the nuclear deal, the Kremlin announced on Tuesday.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had previously said that Washington's proposal was contrary to Tehran's national interests, amid sharp differences over whether Tehran can continue enriching uranium.