Kremlin claims Putin survived massive drone attack on his helicopter
Kremlin claims Putin survived massive drone attack on his helicopter as Trump slams 'crazy' Russian leader
By NIKKI SCHWAB,
The Kremlin claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin survived a massive drone attack on his helicopter last week.
On Tuesday Putin was visiting the Kursk region when his helicopter was 'virtually at the epicenter of repelling a large-scale attack by the enemy's drones,' said Yury Dashkin, commander of a Russian air defense division, according to the state news agency TASS.
'Therefore, we simultaneously conducted an air defense battle and ensured the safety of the presidential helicopter’s flight in the air,' Dashkin said.
The Kursk region borders Ukraine, with Moscow claiming that it had driven Ukrainian forces out of the area last month.
The Russians have provided no additional evidence that the near-miss occurred.
President Donald Trump was asked about the claim Sunday when he left his Bedminster golf resort and said he had no knowledge of it.
'I haven't heard that,' he told reporters. 'I don't know, but I have not heard that,' Trump added.
He speculated 'maybe that would be a reason' for Russia's bombardment of drone and missile attacks into Ukraine over the weekend.
During Russian President Vladimir Putin's (center left) trip to the Kursk region of Russian on Tuesday, his helicopter reportedly survived a massive Ukrainian drone attack. He's pictured during the visit in an official handout photo from the Kremlin News Service
Russian President Vladimir Putin was allegedly in a Mi-8 helicopter like the one pictured. The Kremlin has offered no additional evidence that the entanglement occurred on Tuesday, but attacks on Ukraine escalated all weekend long
Ukrainian officials estimated around 900 drones were launched by Russia in attacks from Friday through Sunday nights, the Associated Press reported.
The escalation in the fighting angered Trump, who unleashed on Putin to reporters and then on Truth Social Sunday night.
'I'm not happy with what Putin's doing. He's killing a lot of people,' Trump said at the Morristown, New Jersey airport. 'I don't know what the hell happened to Putin. I've known him a long time. Always gotten along with him. But he's sending rockets into cities and killing people.'
'We're in the middle of talking and he's shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don't like it at all... I don't know what's wrong with him,' the president complained.
In his Truth Social post later Sunday night, Trump charged that Putin had gone 'gone absolutely CRAZY!'
'I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!' Trump said.
Trump had spoken to Putin by phone for two hours last Monday - a day before the alleged helicopter incident.
The president left the call believing progress could be made, saying that the 'tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent.'
President Donald Trump photographed during a Memorial Day tribute at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday. Trump told reporters Sunday that he hadn't heard that Russian President Vladimir Putin's helicopter was ensnared in a Ukrainian drone attack
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President Donald Trump photographed during a Memorial Day tribute at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday. Trump told reporters Sunday that he hadn't heard that Russian President Vladimir Putin's helicopter was ensnared in a Ukrainian drone attack
'If it wasn't, I would say so now, rather than later,' Trump said.
'Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,' the president also offered.
But so far Russia has responded by assaulting Ukraine more.
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said the Russian attacks 'show the extent to which President Putin has lied to the Europeans and to the Americans.'
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Senate's president pro tempore, encouraged Trump to levy additional sanctions on Russia for the country's bad behavior.
'I’ve had enuf of Putin killing innocent ppl. Pres Trump Take action AT LEAST SANCTIONS,' the 91-year-old Iowa Republican posted on X.
Trump told reporters Sunday that he was 'absolutely' considering upping sanctions on Russia but an announcement has yet to be made.
The president spent Monday morning at Arlington National Cemetery to mark Memorial Day and then headed to his Trump-branded Sterling, Virginia golf club where he spent the rest of the day.
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