‘We want to have a little surprise:’ Trump’s criticism of Putin precedes 700+ drone barrage on Ukraine – We Got This Covered

President Donald Trump recently expressed strong frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, especially because of the rising number of deaths in Ukraine. Trump said he was “not happy with Putin” due to the heavy loss of life, including Russian soldiers. During a cabinet meeting, Trump made his displeasure with the ongoing war clear and hinted at a possible response, telling a reporter, “I wouldn’t tell you. We want to have a little surprise.”

These remarks, along with a promise to possibly send more defensive weapons to Ukraine, came as the U.S. continues trying to negotiate a peace deal for Ukraine, and likely have not helped these efforts. Just hours after Trump’s comments, Ukraine faced its biggest air attack since the war began. Russia fired a record 728 drones and six hypersonic missiles at the country; this is more than the last time.

The huge assault put major pressure on Ukraine’s air defenses, but the military managed to shoot down almost all the drones. However, some of the hypersonic missiles caused damage, and officials reported one death from falling drone debris in western Ukraine. Near the front lines in the Donetsk region, which is partly held by Ukraine, eight people were killed by drones and guided bombs.

Russia attacks Ukraine after Trump’s harsh words

The attack also reached a western region close to Poland, a NATO member. The city of Lutsk, about 200 kilometers from the Polish border, was a main target. Buildings were damaged, and a storage facility and parking structures caught fire, though no deaths or injuries were reported. This was the largest air strike ever on Lutsk, a city of 200,000 people. The attack was so severe that Poland and its allies sent up fighter jets to monitor their airspace. In Kyiv and other major cities, people spent the night sheltering in subway stations.

The timing of this major Russian attack happened while there was internal confusion in the White House over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Sources familiar with the situation said Hegseth ordered a temporary stop to weapons shipments to Ukraine without telling the White House or top officials like the Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor. This bombing comes after Russia was bombed by Ukraine.

During a cabinet meeting, Trump claimed he did not know who was responsible for the decision, even though Hegseth was in the room. This has raised serious doubts about Hegseth’s ability to do his job and work with others in the administration, adding to past controversies during his time as Defense Secretary. The lack of communication with other agencies and key officials has caused frustration in the White House, leading to ongoing concerns about whether he is fit for the role, despite public statements of support from Trump’s team.