Trump Hints at Sanctions After Russia’s Record Strike on Ukraine
Russia carried out its largest aerial assault of the war against Ukraine, launching over 500 drones and missiles in a single day. The unprecedented attack triggered a strong reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned of imminent sanctions and condemned the escalation in harsh terms.
Trump sanctions
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump confirmed he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly before the attack.
“He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people, it’s no good,”
Trump remarked bluntly. He further revealed that sanctions were a central theme of their conversation.
“We talk about sanctions a lot,”
he said, adding,
“He understands that it may be coming.”
Trump’s comments mark a clear shift toward stronger punitive measures, suggesting that patience with Moscow’s aggression is running out.
Record strike
The Russian assault targeted a wide arc across Ukraine, from the capital Kyiv to western regions like Lviv and Khmelnytskyi. The aerial barrage involved hundreds of Shahed drones and long-range missiles, making it the heaviest single-day strike since the war began. Air defense systems managed to intercept a majority of the projectiles, but several still penetrated defenses, causing destruction, injuries, and at least one confirmed death. Civilian areas, energy infrastructure, and transport lines were among the hardest hit.
Air defense urgency
Trump emphasized the urgent need for Ukraine to bolster its missile defense capabilities.
“They’ll need Patriot missiles,”
he said, underlining the scale of the challenge now facing Kyiv. Discussions are reportedly underway to enhance Ukraine’s interceptor systems and deploy more sophisticated counter-drone measures. The attack has renewed concerns about Kyiv’s vulnerability to saturation strikes that overwhelm existing defense layers.
Warning to Putin
Though no new sanctions have been formally announced, Trump’s statements serve as a public warning to the Kremlin. His words, directed at Putin, suggest that Washington may soon impose a fresh wave of economic penalties, targeting strategic sectors or military supply chains.
“He knows they’re coming,”
Trump said, leaving little room for ambiguity.
