Ukraine launched a daring drone strike deep inside Russian territory on Sunday, destroying dozens of nuclear-capable bombers and other military aircraft.
According to reports from CBS and Axios citing unnamed sources, Ukraine did not inform the Trump administration in advance about the planned operation, which had been secretly in the works for over a year. The mission involved smuggling drones into Russia to carry out the attacks.
The White House has not commented on the lack of notification.
Timing of the Attack Coincides with Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks
The surprise strike occurred just before Ukrainian negotiators were scheduled to meet Russian officials in Istanbul on Monday to discuss new peace proposals. The attack dealt a significant blow to Russian military capabilities far inside their own borders.
Strained Relations Between Trump and Zelensky
President Trump, who spent Sunday golfing with Bryson DeChambeau, has had a rocky relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Their tension surfaced publicly during a February 28 Oval Office confrontation, with Trump accusing Ukraine of having “no cards” to play in resisting Russia’s invasion.
Observers suggest that these public disagreements may have eroded Ukrainian trust in the U.S. under Trump’s leadership.
Details of the Drone Attack
Reports from the Kyiv Independent indicate that at least 41 Russian heavy bombers were targeted at four different airbases thousands of miles inside Russia. The damaged aircraft include the TU-95 “Bear” nuclear bombers, the A-50 “Mainstay” command jets, and TU-22 “Backfire” strike bombers—key elements of Russia’s strategic arsenal.
Background: Russia’s Escalation and Trump’s Peace Efforts
Russia has recently intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities, causing widespread civilian casualties. Trump has publicly criticized Putin’s aggressive tactics, describing the Russian leader as “playing with fire” and “going absolutely CRAZY.”
While Trump has pushed for peace negotiations and claimed Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire under his terms, Russia has yet to reciprocate. Despite this, Trump continues to place blame on Zelensky for the ongoing conflict, stating, “This isn’t my war. This is Biden’s war, Zelensky his war and Putin’s war.”
Congressional Response and Military Aid to Ukraine
Bipartisan momentum is building in Congress to increase sanctions on Russia and consider additional military aid to Ukraine. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have pledged to push for tougher measures against Moscow.
Since the conflict began in February 2022, Congress has approved more than $175 billion in aid to Ukraine, including nearly $67 billion in military support, according to the U.S. State Department.