Trump turns on Putin as Russia batters Ukraine in biggest strike yet
By Ottilie Salwey
Ukraine endured its most devastating airstrike since the start of the war, with 728 drones and 13 missiles slamming into the western city of Lutsk overnight Tuesday.
Located just 90 kilometers from the Polish border, Lutsk was left reeling in the wake of the onslaught, which Ukrainian officials described as a “demonstrative attack” designed to undermine ongoing peace efforts.
The strike marks a sharp escalation in Russia’s aerial campaign. Just days earlier, a similar attack involving 500 drones injured 26 people.
On Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said via Telegram, “This is a demonstrative attack, and it comes at a time when there have been so many attempts to achieve peace and ceasefire, but Russia rejects everything.”
Zelensky has spent months urging the U.S. and its allies to confront what he calls Russia’s “increasing aggression.” Until recently, his calls appeared to fall on deaf ears in Washington. Earlier this year, the Trump administration seemed to edge closer to Moscow than Kyiv. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff maintained regular contact with Kremlin officials, and President Trump publicly voiced trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions.
“I believe he wants peace… I know him very well. I trust him on this subject,” Trump said in February.
But this week marked a sharp policy reversal. On Monday, Trump reinstated military aid to Ukraine just days after suspending it. The turnaround followed a tense phone call between Trump and Putin last Thursday, their sixth conversation this year.
Speaking to reporters after the call, Trump said: “I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin. I don’t think he is here for peace.”
Trump’s tone has shifted dramatically. In a cabinet meeting Tuesday, when asked whether he would support Senator Lindsey Graham’s proposed sanctions, which include 500 percent tariffs on nations trading with Russia, Trump said: “I am looking at it… very strongly.”
Unprompted, he also praised Ukrainian forces, calling them “very brave,” in a notable departure from earlier criticisms.
The Kremlin has yet to formally respond to the renewed American pressure.
However, Tuesday’s barrage on Lutsk makes clear that Russia is showing no signs of de-escalation.
