A national security expert issued a stark warning Thursday night after President Donald Trump’s latest phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin was followed by a massive Russian missile barrage over Kyiv.
Appearing on CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins,” Beth Sanner, a former deputy director of national intelligence, didn’t mince words as she analyzed the timing of Russia’s latest assault on Ukraine – just hours after Trump himself publicly confirmed his call with Putin.
“If you look back at every time that he said, ‘Stop, Vladimir’ or made a call, he strikes – Putin strikes again within the next day,” Sanner said. “I get why this administration wants to keep the dialogue open, but Putin responds every time with a finger.”
She then warned: “At some point, I mean, if I were in Ukraine, I'd be like, 'Uh, stop calling President Putin because it rains missiles down on us.'"
The remarks came after CNN’s Jim Sciutto reported that Kyiv was enduring a sustained Russian attack on Thursday, with at least 13 sites struck by missiles and drones – including residential neighborhoods. At least eight people were reported injured as air raid sirens continued to sound.
Trump, while speaking to reporters, described his call with Putin as “pretty long,” and added they discussed Iran and the war in Ukraine – but admitted, “I didn't make any progress with them today at all.”
Sanner’s warning on Thursday comes amid criticism of the Trump administration’s decision to pause U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine, including critical air defense systems.
