Trump faults Ukraine’s Spiderweb attack for making things worse by provoking Russia to step up strikes

Published June 9, 2025 7:49am ET



TRUMP: THEY GAVE PUTIN A REASON TO BOMB THE HELL OUT OF THEM’: As is President Donald Trump’s habit, when Ukraine takes action to strike back at Russia, Trump finds a way to accuse Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of undermining peace efforts by provoking the Russians.

Case in point: last week’s Spiderweb surprise drone attack that struck Russia’s bomber fleet. Asked by a reporter on Air Force One Friday if the June 1 attack, which disabled or destroyed as many as 40 Russian planes, had changed his view about how many “cards” Zelensky has to play, Trump criticized Ukraine for poking the bear. “They gave Putin a reason to bomb the hell out of them,” Trump said. “That’s what I didn’t like — I saw it and thought, ‘Here we go, now there’ll be a strike.’”

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.