Trump will talk to Putin 'soon' after Russia launches 'largest attack' since war began

President Donald Trump has recently insisted that “no one has been tougher on President Putin,” despite actions that critics say suggest otherwise. Just weeks ago, Trump hosted Vladimir Putin at a summit in Alaska, complete with a red carpet welcome a move that raised eyebrows, considering Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes.

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump promised that he would end the Russia-Ukraine war “on day one” if elected. However, by early September, little progress had been made in his attempts to broker peace. His repeated threats of sanctions and promises of deadlines for Russia to end its invasion have largely gone unanswered, while Russian forces continue heavy bombardments against Ukraine.

This weekend, Russia launched its most intense aerial assault since the war began in 2022. Ukrainian officials reported that drones and missiles struck the capital Kyiv, killing at least four people and wounding dozens more. The attack targeted Ukraine’s Cabinet headquarters, marking the largest drone strike of the war so far, according to Ukraine’s air force.

Trump, when asked about the strikes, said he would “soon” speak with Putin to push for peace and claimed European leaders were heading to Washington for talks. While expressing frustration about the escalation, he still defended his record, pointing to tariffs placed on Indian exports last month as an indirect blow to Russia, since India is a major buyer of Russian energy.

International leaders strongly condemned Russia’s latest strikes. French President Emmanuel Macron said Moscow was “locking itself ever deeper into the logic of war and terror,” while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the attacks as “cowardly” and urged the West to remain firm in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed he spoke with Macron about new steps to boost Ukraine’s defenses. Meanwhile, questions remain about Trump’s approach whether his claims of toughness align with the reality of Putin’s continued escalation.