Russian President Vladimir Putin told former U.S. President Donald Trump during a recent phone call that Russia will be compelled to respond to Ukrainian drone strikes, according to Trump.
Speaking on Wednesday, Trump said their conversation touched on the recent Ukrainian assault on Russian aircraft stationed at airfields, as well as other incidents from both sides involved in the ongoing conflict.
“Putin made it clear—quite forcefully—that he intends to respond to the attacks on Russia’s airfields,” Trump shared in a message posted on social media.
Reporting from Washington, Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett noted that Trump described the 85-minute call with Putin as “constructive,” though he acknowledged it did not bring the parties any closer to a ceasefire or resolution.
“Trump entered office asserting he could end the war immediately,” Halkett said. “But now it’s June, and the conflict is far from over.”
Earlier that day, Moscow warned that it may resort to military action in response to Ukrainian operations deep within Russian territory. Russian officials also blamed Western nations for their alleged involvement and urged the U.S. and U.K. to restrain Ukraine.
Despite those claims, officials in both Washington and London denied any advance knowledge of Ukraine’s weekend strikes, which reportedly targeted long-range bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Ukrainian officials hailed the attacks as a demonstration of their continued capability to push back even after years of war.
In addition to Ukraine, Trump mentioned that the two leaders also discussed Iran during their conversation. According to Trump, Putin expressed interest in participating in negotiations for a new nuclear agreement with Tehran.
“I told President Putin that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons, and he appeared to agree with that position,” Trump wrote, while also accusing Iran of delaying progress in the ongoing discussions.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin reported that Putin had earlier spoken with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and reaffirmed Russia’s willingness to support negotiations for a renewed nuclear deal.
However, on Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed a recent U.S. proposal, stating it conflicted with Iran’s national interests, highlighting ongoing tensions over uranium enrichment and the broader future of diplomacy with Tehran.
Source: Al Jazeera
About The Author
