Trump ‘Very Unhappy’ After Putin Call as Ukraine Suffers Unprecedented Air Assault
Trump expressed frustration after speaking with Putin, saying he "just wants to keep killing people," as Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine, firing 550 drones and missiles.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — U.S. President Donald Trump expressed strong disappointment on Friday following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that the Russian leader “just wants to keep killing people,” as Ukraine endured its most massive aerial assault since the war began over three years ago.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “It’s a very tough situation. I told you I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people, it’s no good.” The comments came as the Ukrainian government accused Moscow of launching a calculated and deadly barrage shortly after the Trump-Putin call concluded.
According to Sky News, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the recent Russian assault as “demonstratively significant and cynical,” noting that air raid sirens began sounding across Ukraine “almost simultaneously” with the start of the leaders’ conversation. Zelenskyy called it a “hard, sleepless night,” emphasizing that Kyiv was once again the primary target.
“This is obvious proof that without really large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its stupid, destructive behaviour,” Zelenskyy declared, urging Ukraine’s Western partners to toughen sanctions and economic penalties against Moscow. He stressed that any real change “depends on the partners, primarily the United States.”
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired an unprecedented 550 aerial weapons, including 539 drones and 11 missiles, in the attacks on Friday. Air defense systems managed to intercept 268 drones and two missiles. Yuriy Ignat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, confirmed this was the largest single attack since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in early 2022. “This is the largest number that the enemy has used in a single attack,” he said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha directly linked the massive strike to the Trump-Putin call, writing on social media: “Right after Putin spoke with President Trump. And he does it on purpose. Enough of waiting! Putin clearly shows his complete disregard for the United States and everyone who has called for an end to the war.”
Trump, in remarks cited by Sky News, said he “does not believe [Putin] will stop the war in Ukraine,” and acknowledged that their discussion had produced “no progress at all” toward a resolution. Despite the lack of movement, Trump added that he intends to speak with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy later in the day, though no further details were immediately provided.
In contrast to Trump’s blunt assessment, the Kremlin issued a statement calling the conversation “frank and constructive,” asserting that the two presidents were “on the same wavelength.” Nevertheless, Russian officials reported that Putin reiterated Moscow’s commitment to “continue to pursue its goals” and emphasized that Russia “will not back down” from its objectives in Ukraine.
The devastating scale of the assault and its timing have sparked renewed international concern about the state of negotiations and the credibility of peace efforts. With Ukrainian infrastructure severely damaged and civilian casualties mounting, Kyiv’s Western allies face mounting pressure to reassess their strategies.
The attack may further complicate diplomatic outreach, particularly in Washington, where bipartisan criticism of Moscow has intensified amid the Kremlin’s refusal to de-escalate and growing impatience over the futility of dialogue. The developments underscore the fragile and volatile nature of the conflict, casting further doubt on the possibility of a negotiated truce in the near future.
