After Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia's nuclear-capable bombers, Trump and Putin held a tense phone call warning of escalation and reigniting concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for over an hour on Wednesday, discussing the latest wave of Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory and the looming threat of Iran’s nuclear program. The high-stakes conversation comes amid rising tensions and fears of global escalation.
The Kremlin said Putin informed Trump about the results of Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations in Istanbul—talks which Moscow claims Kyiv tried to sabotage by launching attacks on civilian and military targets, including airfields and bridges.
In a 75-minute phone call, Trump acknowledged that Putin was “very strong” in his warning that Russia would respond to Ukraine’s recent drone strike on nuclear-capable bomber fleets stationed deep inside Russian territory, including in Siberia and the far north.
“These attacks were not minor,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, and other events. It was a good conversation, but not one that will lead to immediate peace.”
Trump also addressed the Iran nuclear issue, telling Putin that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons. According to Trump, Putin agreed in principle, though Tehran continues to "slowwalk" talks, raising fresh concerns in Washington.
This wasn’t just diplomatic theater. The stakes are high. Russia’s strategic bomber fleet is one of the three pillars of its nuclear triad, along with land-based intercontinental missiles and submarine-launched nukes. Striking any component of that system is considered a serious escalation.
The Kremlin noted that Trump had told Putin the U.S. had no prior knowledge of Ukraine’s June 1 attacks—something Moscow seems to question. Trump’s Ukraine envoy warned that the risk of escalation “is going way up” following these latest developments.
The backdrop to all this? Trump’s months-long campaign to push for a negotiated peace deal, even as the war grinds into its fourth year—the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. Yet his calls for calm come as both sides dig in deeper.
International observers say Putin’s tone has hardened. After the drone strikes and a deadly bridge bombing blamed on Kyiv, the Russian leader now claims that Ukraine has no real interest in peace.
A nationwide transport strike on Friday disrupted travel across Italy, with major delays and cancellations reported in rail, air, and public transit services.
Azerbaijan and Poland discussed closer cooperation in digital tax reforms and innovation during a high-level meeting held on the sidelines of the IOTA General Assembly in Baku.
A 32°C heatwave expected to grip England has been made a 100 times more likely by human-caused climate change, according to a rapid scientific analysis released Thursday.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, in Baku, as the two countries look to deepen their strategic economic partnership.
A nationwide transport strike on Friday disrupted travel across Italy, with major delays and cancellations reported in rail, air, and public transit services.
Azerbaijan and Poland discussed closer cooperation in digital tax reforms and innovation during a high-level meeting held on the sidelines of the IOTA General Assembly in Baku.
A 32°C heatwave expected to grip England has been made a 100 times more likely by human-caused climate change, according to a rapid scientific analysis released Thursday.
Kazakhstan’s flagship carrier, Air Astana, will temporarily suspend its flights from Atyrau to Dubai starting June 28, due to a significant increase in flight duration.
Several EU Member States have activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to assist the departure of citizens due to the airspace closures in the Middle East. Slovakia, Lithuania, Greece, Poland and Portugal have requested UCPM support to assist the departure of their nationals.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russia and Kazakhstan have signed a formal agreement to move forward with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, marking a key step in their energy cooperation.
A nationwide transport strike on Friday disrupted travel across Italy, with major delays and cancellations reported in rail, air, and public transit services.
Several EU Member States have activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to assist the departure of citizens due to the airspace closures in the Middle East. Slovakia, Lithuania, Greece, Poland and Portugal have requested UCPM support to assist the departure of their nationals.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China issued red alerts as extreme monsoon rain trigger flash floods across central and southern regions, threatening lives, and infrastructure.
A nationwide transport strike on Friday disrupted travel across Italy, with major delays and cancellations reported in rail, air, and public transit services.
Azerbaijan and Poland discussed closer cooperation in digital tax reforms and innovation during a high-level meeting held on the sidelines of the IOTA General Assembly in Baku.
A 32°C heatwave expected to grip England has been made a 100 times more likely by human-caused climate change, according to a rapid scientific analysis released Thursday.
Kazakhstan’s flagship carrier, Air Astana, will temporarily suspend its flights from Atyrau to Dubai starting June 28, due to a significant increase in flight duration.
Several EU Member States have activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to assist the departure of citizens due to the airspace closures in the Middle East. Slovakia, Lithuania, Greece, Poland and Portugal have requested UCPM support to assist the departure of their nationals.
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