As Ukraine revealed a domestically developed cruise missile capable of striking deep into Russian territory, former President Donald Trump suggested Kyiv must go on the offensive to win the war.
In a social media post Thursday, Trump hinted at “interesting times ahead” and argued that Ukraine can’t succeed without striking back at Russia. “It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader’s country,” he wrote, comparing Ukraine’s current posture to a team playing only defense.
Trump criticized the Biden administration for what he described as holding Ukraine back, despite President Biden’s late 2024 decision to authorize the use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles against Russian targets — a move Trump previously called “stupid.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the development of the Flamingo cruise missile, which boasts a range of nearly 2,000 miles. He said the new weapon could enter mass production by early next year.
Earlier this week, Trump reiterated U.S. support for Ukraine’s air defenses but ruled out deploying American troops.
Russian Strikes Escalate After Putin-Trump Summit
Despite last week’s summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump in Alaska, Russian aerial assaults have intensified. On Thursday, Moscow launched a major strike on western Ukraine, hitting what officials described as a “major American electronics manufacturer.” At least a dozen people were injured.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia fired 574 drones and 40 ballistic and cruise missiles in what was one of the most extensive aerial attacks of the year.
Zelenskyy accused Moscow of avoiding peace talks, saying, “They don’t want to end this war. They continue their massive attacks on Ukraine and their ferocious assaults along the front line.”
While U.S. officials remain hopeful that Zelenskyy and Putin might meet face-to-face within two weeks, no formal plans have been announced.