‘Ukraine Tried to Scare Foreign Leaders’ – Putin Tells Trump During Phone Call

Russian leader Vladimir Putin accused Kyiv of attempting an attack ahead of May 9 and intimidating foreign leaders during a phone call on Monday, May 19, with US President Donald Trump.

According to Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy advisor, the Russian leader claimed that Kyiv had launched drone attacks on Moscow on the eve of Victory Day. Putin claimed that nearly all of the drones had been intercepted.

He also told Trump that alleged “terrorist threats“ near the Kremlin and Red Square had been prevented. 

Putin claimed these were attempts to “intimidate” the foreign leaders who had arrived in Moscow for the May 9 parade.

“Putin, of course, mentioned this to Trump for a reason, as the Ukrainians directly threatened foreign participants of the holiday events and, as our president publicly stated, tried to intimidate foreign leaders and prevent them from coming to Moscow,” Ushakov said. 

Additionally, Putin claimed that on the night of May 7, Ukraine launched 524 drones and British Storm Shadow missiles at Russia.

Putin invited the leaders of several allied nations — including China, India, Brazil, Slovakia and Serbia — to attend the Victory Day parade in Moscow. 

The guest list was dominated by countries from the Global South and the post-Soviet space, such as Cuba, Venezuela, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Myanmar. The US and most EU member states did not receive invitations.

Other Topics of Interest

Former President Poroshenko on Ceasefire, 2014 Lessons, Trump, and UN

In a wide-ranging discussion at the Black Sea Security Forum 2026, former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko reflected on Ukraine’s transformation since 2014, arguing that the country has broken decisively with its Soviet past, built Europe’s strongest army, and must pursue EU and NATO membership as the foundation of its long-term security.

This all came amid a drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region during the night of May 7. Russian officials reported that the aerial targets were shot down and debris had fallen in multiple areas.

Putin announced a three-day unilateral truce during the Victory Day celebrations, but Kyiv Post correspondents had documented Russian artillery strikes and bombings across the eastern front throughout the period. 

The West had subsequently asked Moscow to comply with a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, a pitch Moscow rejected multiple times, including during Putin’s call with Trump.