Trump calls Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web "badass," but fears fallout — media

Axios reported the information. 

The strike, launched remotely from thousands of miles away, hit one of Russia's key nuclear bomber bases — a bold move that impressed Trump. "Pretty strong," he told one confidant. Another insider added, “He thought it was badass.”

One Trump adviser described the situation as “a chihuahua inflicting some real damage on a much bigger dog.”

Still, Trump fears the attack could push Russian leader Vladimir Putin to strike back hard. “We want this war to end,” one source quoted Trump as saying. “If Putin goes crazy in response, yeah, the president has concerns.”

Trump said he recently spoke with Putin, calling it a “good conversation” — but admitted it wouldn't lead to "immediate peace."

Putin, on state TV, hinted the attack might delay any talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy, however, accused Russia of using diplomacy delays as cover for more aggression.

“The drone attack didn't surprise him, because this is what happens when the war continues, but he is concerned that it will prolong the fighting. He wants the fighting to stop, so it disappoints him whenever there is an attack like that,” a senior White House official said. 

• On June 1, 2025, the Security Service of Ukraine conducted a major Spider’s Web operation to destroy Russian bombers.
• The head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, disclosed the details of the historic special Spider’s Web operation, which resulted in the downing of more than 40 Russian military aircraft.
• Satellite images of the Russian Belaya airbase confirm damage to aircraft following an operation by the Security Service of Ukraine.
• On June 4, NATO sources anonymously stated that the Ukrainian Security Service's Spider's Web operation was indeed large and that 40 Russian aircraft were damaged.