Russian President Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump on Wednesday that he would have to respond to high-profile Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's nuclear-capable bomber fleet and a deadly bridge bombing that Moscow blamed on Kyiv.
After Ukraine bombed bridges and attacked Russia's fleet of nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia and Russia's far north, Putin on Wednesday said he did not think Ukraine's leaders wanted peace. He accused the leadership in Kyiv of terrorism.
Shortly after the Russian president discussed the attacks with his top ministers in Moscow, Trump said he had spoken by telephone with Putin for one hour and 15 minutes, and that they had discussed the Ukrainian attacks and Iran.
"We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace," Trump said on social media.
"President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump said, adding that he hoped Putin could be helpful in US negotiations with Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme. He accused Iran of "slowwalking" regarding the nuclear talks.
Trump has been unusually silent on the Ukrainian attacks on the Russian bombers – one of the three pillars of Russia's nuclear arsenal – though Moscow demanded that the United States and Britain restrain Ukraine.
The Kremlin said Trump had told Putin that Washington was not informed in advance of the Ukrainian attacks. Trump's Ukraine envoy said the risk of escalation from the war in Ukraine was "going way up" after the strikes.
In some of his most hawkish remarks in recent months on the outlook for peace, Putin on Wednesday said the bridge attacks had been directed against civilians and accused Ukrainian leadership of being a "terrorist organisation" supported by powers who were becoming "terrorist accomplices".
"The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all," Putin said at a meeting with senior officials. "What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?" Ukraine has accused Moscow of not seriously wanting peace, citing as evidence Russian resistance to an immediate ceasefire.
Putin, in his public remarks, did not mention the bomber attacks, which came just before Russia and Ukraine met for direct peace talks in Istanbul on June 2 where Moscow set out what the United States has called "maximalist" aims.
Putin also discussed the war in Ukraine with Pope Leo in a telephone call, the Kremlin said. The president "reaffirmed his interest in bringing about peace by political and diplomatic means", the Kremlin said, describing the call as "constructive".
Putin's remarks at a televised meeting with senior officials came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed implementation of a ceasefire until a meeting can be arranged with Putin. Zelenskiy also sought support from US President Donald Trump for the idea.
"My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is that we agree a ceasefire with the Russians until the leaders meet," Zelenskiy told a briefing in Kyiv. "At this time, people will understand that the nations, Europe, Ukraine and the whole world have a chance to end the war," he added.
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