Since Donald Trump became US President again, Russian air attacks on Ukraine have increased sharply, according to data from a US think tank. President Trump claims Vladimir Putin respects him and the war would never have started under his leadership, but the numbers tell a different story. Despite Trump's calls for a ceasefire, the conflict continues to escalate.
Donald Trump often repeats that the war in Ukraine is 'Biden's war' and would never have started under his presidency. 'This is Biden's war. This war would never have started if I had been president,' he said. He attributes this to Putin respecting him and therefore not conquering all of Ukraine. 'I believe that's because of me,' Trump explained in an interview last year.
In fact, Russian air attacks have multiplied since Trump's inauguration. The US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) analyzed data from the Ukrainian air force's social media reports. It tracked missiles and drones launched from Russia. In Trump's first year in office, Russia unleashed more than 55,000 projectiles and drones on Ukraine—more than seven times as many as in Biden's last year.
Trump's appeals had no effect. In April 2025, he posted on Truth Social: 'Vladimir, STOP'. Putin ignored it. Trump suspected: 'That makes me believe he doesn't want to stop the war at all, that he's just stringing me along'. The attacks rose to the war's highest level.
In August 2025, Trump welcomed Putin in Alaska and applauded him. Afterward, he advocated for a direct peace agreement rather than a ceasefire, as the latter often fails. Trump showed understanding for Putin's fear that Ukraine could rearm during a pause.
Last week, in the Oval Office, Trump recounted asking Putin to stop shooting for a week due to the icy weather. 'And he agreed,' he said. Less than 24 hours later, Russia launched over 450 drones and 70 missiles toward Ukraine.
These developments highlight the ongoing escalation despite diplomatic efforts.
