- Trump’s Revelation: Trump says Putin told him he’s not happy about the drone strikes.
- Escalation Fears: Will Putin’s response make things even worse in the ongoing conflict?
- Zelenskyy’s Plea: The Ukrainian President is still pushing for direct talks but feels like Putin isn’t taking peace seriously.
Putin’s Ire: What Sparked This?
Alright, so what’s got Putin so riled up? Last weekend, Ukraine allegedly launched drone attacks targeting Russian airfields. These weren’t just any airfields; we’re talking about sites housing strategic bombers. Ukrainian officials are boasting that they took out or damaged nearly a third of Moscow’s bomber fleet using some seriously cheap drones that somehow slipped past Russian defenses.
Trump Steps into the Fray
Enter Donald Trump. He claims to have had a “good conversation” with Putin, but don’t expect peace anytime soon. It’s the first time Trump has commented on the attacks, and he made sure to mention that the U.S. had no heads-up about Ukraine’s operation. According to Putin’s foreign affairs advisor, Trump emphasized that point during the call. Now, this is interesting considering that the U.S. has been leading the diplomatic efforts to stop the invasion, which started in February 2022.
Zelenskyy’s Take: Is Putin Playing Games?
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy isn’t buying Russia’s ceasefire proposals. He calls them unrealistic and is still pushing for face-to-face talks with Putin. But it seems like Putin isn’t interested. One of Putin’s advisors, Yuri Ushakov, described the call with Trump as “positive and quite productive,” stressing that it was useful for Trump to hear Russia’s assessment of the situation. However, he dodged the question about what Russia’s response might be.
Zelenskyy later posted that Putin feels impunity. Zelenskyy believes that Russia’s planned response is a middle finger, as he stated, to the entire world – especially to those who still hesitate to increase pressure on it.
Digging Deeper: Key Players and Missed Opportunities
Trump, who repeatedly promised to end the war, has seemingly lost patience with Putin, even saying the Russian leader “has gone absolutely CRAZY.” However, Trump hasn’t committed to backing a bipartisan push to sanction Putin. The call was Trump’s first known talk with Putin since May 19. They also discussed Iran’s nuclear program and the possibility of Russia engaging in talks with Tehran. Did Trump also speak with Zelenskyy? The White House isn’t saying.
The Ceasefire Conundrum
Zelenskyy has brushed off Russia’s ceasefire plan as “an ultimatum,” renewing his call for direct talks with Putin. Putin, however, expressed anger about what he said were Ukraine’s recent “terrorist acts” on Russian rail lines in the Kursk and Bryansk regions. He questioned how any summit meetings could be conducted in such circumstances, accusing Ukraine of seeking a truce only to replenish its stockpiles of Western arms, recruit more soldiers and prepare new attacks.
Putin also spoke with Pope Leo XIV, who has promised to make “every effort” to help end the war, urging Putin to make a gesture that would promote peace and stressing the importance of dialogue, according to the Vatican.
Stalled Talks and Red Lines
Russia and Ukraine have established red lines that make a quick deal unlikely, despite a U.S.-led international diplomatic push to stop the fighting. Zelenskyy described the latest negotiations in Istanbul as “a political performance” and “artificial diplomacy” designed to stall for time, delay sanctions and convince the United States that Russia is engaged in dialogue.
Drone Warfare: Ukraine’s Ace in the Hole?
While talks stall, both sides have kept up offensive military actions. Ukraine’s Security Service gave more details about its drone strike on Russian air bases, claiming it destroyed or damaged 41 Russian aircraft. They even released footage showing drones swooping under and over parked aircraft. According to a RAND expert, Caitlin Lee, the drones are partly piloted by an operator and partly by using artificial intelligence. Also, a new prisoner exchange with Russia could take place over the weekend, Zelenskyy said.
Geopolitical Chessboard: What’s Next?
The situation is tense, to say the least. With Putin vowing a response, the world is watching to see if this conflict escalates even further. Will Trump play a role in de-escalating tensions? Can Zelenskyy and Putin find common ground? Only time will tell.
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