Trump ‘Very Disappointed’ After Call With Putin as Russia Launches Largest Aerial Assault of Ukraine War

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – A massive wave of Russian drone and missile strikes pummeled Kyiv overnight in the largest aerial attack since the war began, just hours after a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The assault injured at least 23 civilians and left swaths of the capital damaged, including apartment buildings, rail infrastructure, and emergency response vehicles.

President Trump expressed frustration with the outcome of the July 3 call, stating he was “very disappointed” in the conversation and does not believe Putin is looking to end the war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin relayed Moscow’s intention to schedule a third round of peace talks with Ukraine, following inconclusive meetings in May and June. However, Russia made no indication it would compromise on its military objectives.

“I’m just saying I don’t think he’s looking to stop, and that’s too bad,” Trump said. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that Putin told Trump, “Russia will achieve its goals” in Ukraine and “will not abandon” them.

Shortly after the call, Kyiv endured an unprecedented assault: 539 Iranian-made Shahed drones and 11 missiles targeted Ukraine, according to Ukrainian Air Force data. Of those, 270 airborne threats were confirmed shot down, while 208 went off radar and are presumed jammed. Russia reportedly succeeded in hitting eight locations using nine missiles and 63 drones.

The Ukrainian capital sustained significant damage. Fires erupted across at least five of Kyiv’s 10 districts. In Solomianskyi, a five-story apartment block was partially destroyed, and a nearby seven-story building caught fire. Other strikes set ablaze a warehouse, an auto repair shop, and residential complexes.

A 14-story residential building in Sviatoshynskyi was hit, sparking a major fire, while a separate eight-story building in Shevchenkivskyi sustained direct damage. A 10-year-old girl was among the 14 hospitalized. One death was reported by Kyiv’s emergency services after a body was pulled from the rubble.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko noted that five ambulances responding to calls were damaged in the attack. Ukraine’s national railway reported damage to its infrastructure from drone strikes.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the timing of the strikes, calling it “absolutely horrible and sleepless” and suggesting Putin’s escalation was intentional following his talk with Trump.

Meanwhile, the U.S. decision to pause certain weapons shipments to Ukraine — including Patriot air defense missiles and Stinger short-range systems — has raised further concern in Kyiv. President Zelenskyy confirmed he plans to speak with Trump regarding the halt.

“This is clear evidence that without truly large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its dumb, destructive behavior,” Zelenskyy said. “And it depends on our partners, primarily the United States.”

In a gesture of limited progress, Russia and Ukraine conducted another prisoner-of-war exchange on July 4. President Zelenskyy posted video footage of returning Ukrainian soldiers wrapped in national flags, saying some civilians were among those released. Russia’s defense ministry confirmed its soldiers were transported to Belarus for post-release care.

As Kyiv begins cleanup from the latest barrage, and the U.S. reviews its weapons policies, the diplomatic and military stalemate appears far from over–with the Ukrainian people continuing to pay the price.

Prophetic Significance

Russia’s growing presence on the world stage — particularly in the Middle East — is stirring prophetic awareness among students of Scripture. In Ezekiel 38, a leader from the “uttermost parts of the north” is drawn into conflict with Israel. Many scholars and prophecy teachers identify this northern power as Russia, citing its geographic location and increasing military assertiveness as signs of prophetic alignment.

The deepening partnership between Russia and Iran, historically known as Persia, further intensifies this view. Ezekiel’s prophecy lists Persia as one of the key nations in a coalition that comes against Israel in the latter days. Today, that ancient alliance is no longer theoretical—it’s unfolding in real time as both nations form a united front in the region.

Today’s attack, carried out mainly with Iranian-made Shahed drones, is more than a military strike—it’s a prophetic sign. The growing coordination between Russia and Iran reflects the Ezekiel 38 alliance coming into view. Prophecy is no longer a future theory—it’s unfolding in real time, setting the stage for God’s coming intervention.

All of this comes into sharper focus in light of Israel’s modern rebirth. For the first time in nearly two thousand years, the Jewish people have regathered in their ancient homeland—a central requirement for the Ezekiel 38 scenario to even be possible. Israel is flourishing, yet increasingly surrounded by enemies, just as the prophets described.

Ezekiel also speaks of a mysterious “hook in the jaw” that draws this northern power into a final conflict. Many believe Russia’s entanglement in the Middle East may be part of that divine setup. This is not random political maneuvering. It is the slow, deliberate unfolding of God’s plan.

Ultimately, Ezekiel’s prophecy does not end in Israel’s destruction but in God’s dramatic intervention. He defends His people not because of their merit, but to sanctify His Name before the nations. As tensions rise and alliances shift, believers are reminded that God is in control—and that the prophetic stage is being set for the days ahead.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.