U.S. President Donald Trump condemned Ukraine’s recent military operations, particularly Operation Spiderweb, which targeted Russian airbases and infrastructure, prompting a fierce Russian counterattack.
On June 6, Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities, resulting in 80 injuries and four deaths, including first responders, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump criticized Ukraine’s actions, stating:
He added, “That’s something I didn’t like about it. When I saw it, I said: ‘Here we go… now it’s going to be a strike.’”
On June 1, Ukraine executed Operation Spiderweb, a drone attack on four Russian military airfields that damaged 41 planes, including strategic bombers and rare A-50 spy planes, crippling 34% of Russia’s bomber fleet.
Ukraine also struck Russian railway bridges, killing seven and injuring over 120, actions Russian President Vladimir Putin called “undoubtedly a terrorist act” by an “illegitimate regime in Kiev.”
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that its retaliatory strikes targeted Ukrainian defense industry sites, including weapons production facilities, drone assembly workshops, and military warehouses.
Putin, in a June 5 call with Trump, warned that Moscow’s response was justified, a view Trump appeared to support.
Despite the intensifying conflict, Trump has held off on new sanctions against Russia, prioritizing potential peace talks.
“If I think I’m close to getting a deal, I don’t want to screw it up by doing that,” he said, while warning, “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean really bad.”
A bipartisan sanctions bill awaits Congressional approval, but Trump remains focused on diplomacy, cautioning that Russia’s continued aggression could lead to severe consequences.