U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed a strong intention to respond to Ukraine’s recent drone attack on Russian airfields during a phone call on Wednesday. Trump described the conversation as lengthy and noted that it was his first discussion with Putin since May 19. He shared on social media that while the call was productive, it would not lead to immediate peace.

The drone strike, which occurred over the weekend, has intensified the ongoing deadlock in the conflict that has persisted for nearly three and a half years. The White House confirmed that the U.S. had no prior knowledge of the operation. Trump has previously promised to swiftly end the war, but his recent comments indicate growing frustration with Putin's handling of the situation. He has publicly urged the Russian leader to cease hostilities, even labeling him as having "gone absolutely CRAZY" in recent weeks.

In the wake of the drone attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russia’s ceasefire proposal, calling it an ultimatum. He reiterated his call for direct negotiations with Putin to resolve the stalemate. However, Putin has shown no interest in meeting with Zelenskyy, citing anger over what he termed Ukraine’s "terrorist acts" on Russian rail lines. In a video call with Russian officials, Putin questioned the feasibility of any summit under the current circumstances, suggesting that Ukraine's motives for a truce were to regroup and prepare for further attacks.

Both nations exchanged memorandums outlining their conditions for a ceasefire ahead of peace talks scheduled for Monday in Istanbul. This meeting marks their second discussion in just over two weeks. Zelenskyy had previously invited Putin to meet in Turkey, but the Russian leader did not attend. The Kremlin's proposal included demands that Ukraine and its Western allies consider unacceptable, complicating the prospect of a quick resolution.

Zelenskyy criticized the latest round of negotiations, describing them as a mere political performance aimed at stalling for time. He remarked, "Honestly, this document looks like spam. It’s spam meant to flood us and create the impression that they’re doing something." He expressed skepticism about the value of continuing talks at the current level, suggesting that a ceasefire should precede any leaders' summit.

The Ukrainian leader indicated that Ukraine is prepared to meet at any time from next Monday at various potential venues, including Istanbul, the Vatican, or Switzerland. Meanwhile, a second round of peace talks in Istanbul lasted just over an hour and yielded no significant progress, with both sides only agreeing to exchange thousands of dead and wounded troops.

In a notable development, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not attend a recent meeting in Brussels of an international group coordinating military aid to Ukraine, marking the first absence of the Pentagon chief since the group’s inception three years ago. Analysts suggest that the Kremlin may be anticipating a U.S. disengagement from the conflict, which could embolden Putin to prolong the war.

As military actions continue along the extensive front line, Ukraine’s Security Service reported that its drone strike on Russian air bases resulted in the destruction or damage of 41 Russian aircraft. The agency claimed that advanced technology guided the drones over vast distances. Additionally, they reported an explosion beneath the Kerch Bridge, a crucial transport link to Crimea, although Russian officials denied any damage occurred.

In the northern Sumy region, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that its troops have taken control of another village, part of an ongoing effort to establish a buffer zone against Ukrainian attacks. Since May, Russian forces have reportedly gained control of nine villages in the area.