Ukraine Attacks Russia on Eve of Negotiation
Ukraine's attack on Russia before a crucial negotiation may be a harbinger of what's to come.
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June started with fireworks inside Russia, courtesy of Ukraine's "Operation Spider's Web," a long-planned drone assault reaching deep into Russian territory. The strike targeted five Russian airbases resulting in the destruction or damage of over 40 military aircraft, around 1/3 of Russia's fleet including nuclear-capable bombers, according to Ukraine. "There are only 120 of them and we struck 40," bragged a Ukrainian defense analyst. The drones were smuggled into Russia and controlled remotely, but within Russia, by Ukrainian operatives. The timing of this operation is significant, occurring the day before scheduled peace negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Istanbul. These peace talks were requested by Russia, according to Marco Rubio, who told ABC the talks were "at Russia's request."
Russia's response to this attack will be informative. If the Kremlin remains committed to its expected summer offensive, it may react aggressively, both at tomorrow's negotiation and on the battlefield. Such a stance could manifest in escalated military actions or the hardening of Russia's positions during discussions. Conversely, if Russia is open to a deal to end the war, its response, while inevitable, may be restrained, possibly leading to a muted retaliation followed by earnest engagement in peace negotiations.
President Donald Trump's reaction to these developments will also provide insight into Russia's anticipated response. Recently, Trump expressed frustration over the ongoing conflict, urging Vladimir Putin to cease hostilities. Following Ukraine's offensive it was reported that President Donald Trump was not informed prior to Ukraine's attack on Russia. It is important to note that these reports are unconfirmed and seem to contradict Trump's recent rhetoric regarding the conflict. Recently, our President was quoted stating he would "know within a couple of weeks" whether Putin was serious about resolving the conflict. Trump also claimed he stopped the worst of the threats against Russia before Putins's recent escalation on Ukraine preempting yesterday's action. As of this post, Trump has not responded to Ukraine's offensive, however, the President's response will be informative for understanding the next stages of this conflict.
Sources
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0r1jv0rn0ko
https://www.axios.com/2025/06/01/ukraine-drone-strikes-russia
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