Did President Trump Just Approve a Russian Strike on Ukraine?

His now deleted Truth Social post raises disturbing questions.

President Trump just deleted a tweet about his 1.25 hour call today with Putin.

Trump explains that Putin will be making a strong military response to the success of Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web which demilitarized 34% of the Russia strategic airfare on June 1, 2025. The destroyed aircraft were part of a fleet responsible for heinous warcrimes against civilians in Ukraine, and on call for nuclear weapons deployment.

President Trump’s response to Putin’s threat of retaliation on Ukraine can clearly be interpreted as acceptance and tacit approval.

Next he explains that it is his objective to work with Russia ( a criminal regime engaged in war crimes and terrorism against Ukraine and hybrid war against USA) to influence Iran (a regime focused on state-sponsored terrorism).

The deleted post

Here is the relevant portion of the text.

“I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes. We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. 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.”

Under the circumstances, responding to Putin’s threats with silence IS tacit approval. Refusing to challenge Putin for his retaliation threat, and declining to declare the consequences Putin will receive from the U.S. is tacit approval. Presenting Putin’s threat of yet another warcrime (since all illegal invasion and bombing of Ukraine is a warcrime under international law), without challenging it, is tacit approval.

The first three question that should be asked of President Trump:

(1) Why did you give tacit approval to Putin to retaliate on Ukraine?;

(2) The Kremlin has been floating the idea of a nuclear response. Did you explain any consequences to Putin from the United States if he drops a tactical nuke?

(3) Given the Putin will not allow a ceasefire, only makes maximalist demands and clearly is stonewalling on peace - are you asking the world to wait two more weeks before conceding that Russia does not want peace? Will there be a decisive response from the White House?

Note that President Trump and Kellogg are both describing Operation Spider's Web as an "attack on Russia's docked airplanes" - perhaps suggesting that this was somehow unfair.

It is hard to believe that even a fraction of a percent of Americans voted for Trump to approve Russian strikes on Ukraine.

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DW Phillips is a journalist, a filmmaker and an attorney who directs for Ukraine Story, a foundation for documentary reporting.