Putin 'will have to respond' to Ukraine's attack on Russian bombers, Trump says after call with Kremlin chief

Editor’s Note: This story is being updated.

Russian President Vladimir Putin “will have to respond” to Ukraine’s recent drone attack on military airfields, U.S. President Donald Trump said on June 4 after holding a call with the Russian president.

Trump said he spoke to Putin over the phone for approximately an hour and 15 minutes on June 4.

“We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account after the call.

“It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”

Ukraine on June 1 launched a game-changing drone attack on four key Russian military airfields, damaging 41 planes, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes.

Ukraine war latest: Kyiv hacks Russian bomber maker; Putin’s ‘disregard’ for troops highlighted as Russian losses near 1 million

Key developments on June 4: * Ukraine hacks Russia’s Tupolev bomber producer, source claims * Putin’s ‘disregard’ for troops highlighted as Russian losses approach 1 million, study finds * Ukraine expects to exchange 500 POWs in next swap with Russia, Zelensky says * Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility in Poltava Oblast, military says

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk