DONALD Trump today delivered a stark warning about Vladimir Putin’s looming retaliation for Ukraine’s audacious weekend drone attacks, revealing the Russian president had told him “very strongly” that Moscow’s response “won’t be pretty.”
The dramatic revelation came as Trump hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House for crucial talks on ending the bloodshed in Ukraine – with both leaders declaring themselves “unhappy” about the ongoing carnage that has claimed thousands of lives.
In an explosive 75-minute phone call on Wednesday, Putin reportedly warned Trump that Russia would “have to respond” to Ukraine’s devastating Operation Spider’s Web, which saw 117 drones smuggled into Russia on trucks before destroying or damaging 41 Russian aircraft, including nuclear-capable strategic bombers.
“President Trump said Vladimir Putin told him ‘very strongly’ in a phone call Wednesday that he will respond to Ukraine’s weekend drone attack on Russian airfields.”
‘Sometimes Better to Let Them Fight’
In a shocking comparison during Thursday’s Oval Office meeting, Trump likened the war between Russia and Ukraine to “a fight between two young children who hated each other.”
The president made the extraordinary suggestion that it might be better to “let Ukraine and Russia ‘fight for a while’ before pulling them apart and pursuing peace.
Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart,” Trump told Merz, adding that he had shared this controversial analogy with Putin during their Wednesday conversation.
NATO’s Massive Military Expansion
As Trump and Merz met in Washington, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte unveiled the alliance’s most ambitious military build-up since the Cold War, with defense ministers agreeing to dramatic new capability targets.
At this Ministerial, we are going to take a huge leap forward” Mr Rutte stated, “We will strengthen our deterrence and defence by agreeing ambitious new capability targets.”
The NATO chief identified critical priorities including:
- Air and missile defence systems
- Long-range weapons
- Enhanced logistics capabilities
- Large land manoeuvre formations
In a move that will send shockwaves through European capitals, The proposal calls for Allies to invest 5% of GDP in defence, including 3.5% on core defence spending, as well as 1.5% of GDP per year on defence and security-related investment, including in infrastructure and resilience.
Germany’s Massive Rearmament
The pressure is mounting on Germany, with NATO will ask Germany to provide seven more brigades, or some 40,000 troops, for the alliance’s defence, three sources told Reuters, under new targets for weapons and troop numbers that its members’ defence ministers are set to agree on next week.
This represents a staggering increase from Germany’s current commitment and would require Berlin to field approximately 40,000 additional active troops – a massive challenge for the Bundeswehr, which is already struggling with a 20,000-troop shortfall.
Warm Reception Despite Trade Tensions
Despite underlying tensions over trade and tariffs, the meeting between Trump and Merz appeared surprisingly cordial. Trump described Merz as a good representative of Germany and also “difficult,” which he suggested was a compliment.
In a touching gesture, The chancellor gave Trump a gold-framed birth certificate of the U.S president’s grandfather Friedrich Trump, who immigrated to America from Germany.
Ukraine’s Audacious Strike
The weekend’s Operation Spider’s Web has been hailed as one of the most daring military operations in modern warfare. On June 1, Ukraine launched a major drone attack on four Russian air bases—including one in Siberia, roughly 3,000 miles from Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky boasted that the attacks would “undoubtedly be in history books.
The operation’s sophistication and reach have stunned military analysts, with the complexity and boldness of Ukraine’s “Operation Spiderweb”—which involved smuggling drones into Russian regions from Murmansk to Irkutsk, and launching them against advanced Russian Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers and A-50 intelligence planes—rivals the now legendary Israeli intelligence operation against Hezbollah fighters’ pagers last year.
Putin’s Fury
The Kremlin confirmed Thursday that Putin had indeed warned Trump about retaliation. Yes, indeed,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about Trump writing on Wednesday that he was told by Putin that Moscow “will have to respond” to the bomber attacks.
When pressed for details about Moscow’s response, Peskov ominously stated: “As and when our military deems it appropriate.”
Peace Talks in Jeopardy
The drone strikes came at a critical moment, just before scheduled peace talks in Istanbul. Putin’s anger was palpable as he questioned whether negotiations could continue, declaring: “How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?
The Russian leader accused Ukraine of seeking a truce only to replenish its stockpiles of Western arms, recruit more soldiers and prepare new attacks like those in Kursk and Bryansk.
Trade Wars Loom
While discussing Ukraine dominated the agenda, trade tensions simmered beneath the surface. Germany exported $160 billion worth of goods to the U.S. last year, according to the Census Bureau. That was about $85 billion more than what the U.S. sent to Germany, a trade deficit that Trump wants to erase.
Trump made his position crystal clear: “We’ll end up hopefully with a trade deal,” Trump said. I’m ok with the tariffs or we make a deal with the trade.”
Merz’s Mission
Since he became chancellor on May 6, Merz has plunged into diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and to maintain Western support for Kyiv.
The 69-year-old conservative former banker arrived in Washington after hosting Zelensky in Berlin on Wednesday, demonstrating Europe’s continued commitment to Ukraine despite American wavering.
Germany is one of the very big investors in America,” Merz told reporters Thursday morning. “Only a few countries invest more than Germany in the USA. We are in third place in terms of foreign direct investment.
Breaking: Musk Drama Overshadows Summit
In a dramatic twist during the meeting, Trump unleashed a stunning attack on his former ally Elon Musk, declaring: “Elon and I had a great relationship,” President Trump said Thursday. “I don’t know if we will anymore.”
The president expressed deep disappointment in the Tesla CEO, adding: “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot,” Mr. Trump told reporters, adding that Musk “worked hard” and did a “good job.
What Happens Next?
As the meeting concluded without major breakthroughs, the world watches nervously for Putin’s promised retaliation. Military analysts warn that the risk of escalation has dramatically increased, with an operation of this scope and scale by Ukraine increases the risk of a direct military confrontation between the United States and Russia.
Former CIA Russia analyst George Beebe warned that unless Trump takes active steps to defuse the situation, “there is no question that it increases the likelihood of a direct confrontation.
With NATO preparing for its most significant military expansion in decades and both sides digging in for what could be a prolonged conflict, Trump’s warning that Putin’s response “won’t be pretty” may prove to be a chilling understatement.
The Bottom Line
As Trump and Merz wrapped up their White House summit, one thing became crystal clear: despite months of promises to end the war quickly, the path to peace in Ukraine remains as elusive as ever. With Putin threatening retaliation, NATO massively expanding its military capabilities, and both sides refusing to budge on core demands, the world may be witnessing not the end of the conflict, but a dangerous new chapter.
The president who once boasted he could end the war in 24 hours now finds himself warning that things are about to get much worse before they get better.
