Leaders' phone call focuses on aircraft strikes

Putin tells US counterpart that Russia will retaliate as truce remains elusive

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had spoken again to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, but warned that a Ukraine ceasefire remained distant and said the Kremlin leader vowed to retaliate after Kyiv attacked Russian bombers.

"It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump said on his Truth Social network.

Kyiv's daring strikes on Russian airfields on Sunday destroyed several nuclear-capable aircraft worth billions of dollars, and dominated the third call between the Russian and US presidents since Trump returned to power.