A phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday has sent ripples through the international community, coming on the heels of Ukraine’s stunning “Spiderweb” drone operation that devastated Russian airfields thousands of miles from the front lines.
The 75-minute conversation, detailed by President Trump on Truth Social, centered on the unprecedented Ukrainian strikes and the increasingly urgent issue of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. While the call was described as “good,” Trump cautioned it would not lead to “immediate Peace” in the ongoing conflict.
“Spiderweb” Unleashed: Ukraine’s $7 Billion Blow
The discussions between the two leaders were dominated by the fallout from Operation “Spiderweb,” a meticulously planned and executed Ukrainian counter-assault that obliterated dozens of Russian warplanes across a vast swathe of Russia.
From the Arctic Circle to bases closer to Japan, drones reportedly smuggled in wooden mobile houses on trucks delivered a devastating blow.
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A Ukrainian security services source revealed that over 40 Russian aircraft were “burning en masse” at four air bases, with Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency estimating a staggering $7 billion in damages. The SBU also claimed the strikes hit 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers at its main air bases, a significant dent in Moscow’s military capabilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lauded the operation as “absolutely unique,” confirming 117 drones were used and even boasting that the operation’s “office” on Russian territory was located “directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions.” Among the confirmed hits were critical assets like TU-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, as well as a rare A-50 surveillance plane.
Putin Vows Response, Iran on the Clock
President Trump’s account of the call highlighted President Putin’s strong assertion that he “will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”
This declaration casts a long shadow over anticipated peace talks in Istanbul, already strained by uncertainty and external pressures. An administration official confirmed to CNN that the Trump administration was not given advance notice of the “Spiderweb” operation.
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Beyond the immediate crisis in Ukraine, the leaders also tackled the escalating concern over Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump stated he informed Putin that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” a point on which he believes they were in agreement. Putin reportedly offered to “participate in the discussions with Iran” and “be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.”
Trump expressed his opinion that “Iran has been slowwalking their decision” on nuclear weapons, emphasizing the need for a “definitive answer in a very short period of time!”
A New Dimension to the Conflict
The “Spiderweb” operation, over a year and a half in the making, signals a new and formidable dimension to Ukraine’s defense strategy, demonstrating Kyiv’s continued ability to apply pressure on Russia more than three years after the unprovoked invasion.
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Ukraine has consistently accused Putin of not genuinely seeking an end to the war, especially as Moscow escalates its own offensive operations.
As the international community grapples with the implications of this audacious attack and the high-stakes diplomatic exchanges, the future of the conflict in Ukraine and the delicate balance of global security hang in the balance.
The SBU’s defiant statement echoes the new reality: “We will strike them at sea, in the air, and on land. And if needed — we’ll reach them even from underground.”
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