### Trump Reveals Putin’s Plans for Retaliation Against Ukraine

In a significant announcement, President Donald Trump disclosed that Russian President Vladimir V. Putin intends to retaliate against Ukraine following a recent drone attack on Russian airfields. The revelation came after a more than hour-long phone conversation between the two leaders on Wednesday.

"President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump stated in a social media post. He labeled their dialogue as a "good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace." The post was briefly deleted without explanation but was later restored.

Trump did not specify whether he attempted to dissuade Putin from launching a counterattack. Instead, he expressed hope about collaborating with Putin on curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, the White House has yet to comment on whether Trump challenged Putin during their exchange or why the post was temporarily removed.

This communication marks Trump's first public comment on Ukraine's audacious drone strike, which targeted airfields across five Russian regions, causing approximately $7 billion in damages.

In a contrasting statement, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov did not confirm if Putin had discussed retaliation specifically. However, he condemned Ukraine's actions as "terrorist," despite Russia's ongoing offensive in Ukraine since 2022. Ushakov mentioned that while Putin described the assaults as criminal, he also indicated ongoing negotiations with Ukraine are crucial for a potential settlement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave insight into the motivations behind the drone attack, code-named Spider’s Web, suggesting it was a direct response to the absence of a truce. According to Zelensky, the operation would not have been executed if the Kremlin had agreed to a ceasefire.

Trump appears frustrated with both Putin and Zelensky, viewing the latter as a destabilizing force while also acknowledging Ukraine’s right to defend itself. Despite his past belief that his "very, very good relationship" with Putin would quickly end the conflict, Trump has recognized the limitations of U.S. influence, particularly given his stance against providing Ukraine with additional military assistance.

Recently, Trump’s approach towards Russia has been cautious. Although he has contemplated increased sanctions against Russia, he has refrained from supporting a bipartisan Senate bill proposing harsher economic penalties. Instead, Trump has turned his focus to achieving a nuclear deal with Iran. Following their call, Trump highlighted a mutual understanding with Putin on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, noting that Putin offered to aid in the discussions.

The Trump administration has already extended a proposal to Iran over the weekend, yet awaits a detailed response. This critical development continues as global tensions heighten with each passing day.