Putin Now Launches Missile Strike Destroying U.S. Factory in Ukraine

President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine, killing at least eight people and undermining hopes for a swift peace deal.

Trump’s sharp rebuke, posted on Truth Social, marked a shift from his earlier praise of Putin, highlighting tensions in their relationship as the U.S. pushes for a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The strikes, which hit civilian infrastructure just days after a high-stakes summit in Alaska, have raised doubts about Putin’s commitment to peace and could reshape Trump’s approach to Russia, potentially straining their long-standing rapport as MAGA supporters and European allies demand clarity.

On August 21, 2025, Russia launched one of the war’s largest aerial assaults, targeting a factory owned by Flex Ltd., a Texas-based electronics manufacturer, in Mukachevo, Zakarpattia, Ukraine.

The attack involved two cruise missiles, causing a massive fire, killing one person, and injuring at least 19, with 600 workers present at the time.

The facility, which produced civilian goods like coffee machines and electronics for gaming consoles and cars, was described by Ukrainian officials as having no military purpose.

Videos showed thick black smoke rising from the site, with about one-third of the plant burned down.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the strike as an act of terror against civilian infrastructure, noting it was the third-largest drone attack and eighth-largest missile attack of the year.

Flex has not confirmed if its facility was specifically targeted, but the attack aligns with prior Russian strikes on American businesses, such as Boeing’s Kyiv offices earlier in 2025.

Trump’s Reaction and the Missile Strikes

Following Russia’s overnight attack on August 19, 2025, which targeted energy facilities and residential areas across Ukraine, Trump took to Truth Social, writing, “I’m not happy with Russia right now. Those missiles and drones last night were disgraceful and disgusting.”

The strikes, described by Ukraine’s air force as involving 24 drones and one ballistic missile hitting 12 locations, killed eight civilians and injured dozens, per NBC News.

The assault came shortly after Trump’s August 15 summit with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, where he had hailed the meeting as “extremely productive” but failed to secure a ceasefire, instead shifting focus to a broader peace agreement, per TIME.

Trump’s frustration was evident as he addressed Putin directly, stating, “Vladimir, this has to STOP! We were so close to a deal in Alaska.”

The attack, which included strikes on Kharkiv and Poltava, underscored Russia’s continued aggression, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warning that Moscow was escalating to gain leverage in negotiations, per The Daily Beast.

Zelensky, set to meet Trump in Washington on August 21, emphasized the need for a ceasefire first, stating, “The killings must stop as soon as possible,” per The New York Times.

Impact on the Trump-Putin Relationship

Trump’s public criticism of Putin marks a notable shift from his historically warm rhetoric toward the Russian leader, whom he has called “smart” and praised for their “good relationship” despite past controversies like the 2016 election interference probe, per The Atlantic.

During his first term, Trump met Putin without staff present and sided with him over U.S. intelligence at the 2018 Helsinki summit.

However, the latest missile strikes, following months of Russian attacks killing civilians—such as a July 2025 Kyiv strike that killed 12, including two children—have tested Trump’s patience, per NPR.

The Alaska summit, initially framed as a “listening exercise” to understand Putin’s demands, yielded no concrete progress, with Putin reiterating calls for Ukraine to cede Donbas and forgo NATO membership, terms Kyiv rejects, per The Guardian.

Trump’s earlier alignment with Putin’s push for a direct peace deal, bypassing a ceasefire, drew criticism from European leaders and MAGA figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who warned of base backlash over Ukraine concessions, as earlier reported by FrankNez Media.

The strikes could push Trump to reconsider his approach.

In March 2025, he and Putin agreed to a limited pause in energy infrastructure attacks, but Russia’s continued aggression, including 145 drones and 70 missiles in April, has eroded trust, per ABC News.

Trump’s threat of sanctions, including 500% tariffs on Russian oil buyers, remains on the table, supported by a bipartisan Senate bill with over 80 cosponsors.

However, his reluctance to fully condemn Putin, coupled with fears of global gas price spikes, may temper aggressive action.

Public and Diplomatic Reactions

Ukrainian officials, like Serhiy Leshchenko, insisted on a ceasefire before negotiations, warning that Putin aims to “buy time” on the battlefield, per NPR.

European leaders, including EU diplomat Kaja Kallas, echoed Zelensky’s concerns, noting Putin’s “treachery” in escalating attacks during talks.

Conversely, some MAGA supporters, like @Beactive100, praised Trump’s peace efforts but urged him to prioritize U.S. interests.

Analysts like Wolfgang Ischinger criticized the Alaska summit as a diplomatic win for Putin, stating, “Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing.”

Ukrainian soldier Artem Reshetilov, mourning his brother’s death in a Russian strike, warned Trump against compromising.

The White House, via Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, remained optimistic, claiming the U.S. is “on the 10th yard line of peace,” per PBS News.

The missile strikes threaten to derail Trump’s pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize, a goal he has openly tied to ending the Ukraine war.

His relationship with Putin, once marked by mutual praise, faces strain as Russia’s actions undermine his narrative of progress.

Trump’s March 2025 claim that Putin was “doing what anybody would do” after a massive strike, contrasts with his current frustration, suggesting a potential pivot.

With his approval rating at 39% per an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll, Trump risks alienating MAGA supporters if he appears too conciliatory, according to Newsweek.

The strikes also complicate Trump’s planned trilateral summit with Putin and Zelensky, with Russia rejecting Kyiv as a venue and Putin refusing to meet Zelensky, whom he calls an “illegitimate” leader.

European allies, insisting that “international borders must not be changed by force,” are pushing for Ukraine’s inclusion.

If Putin continues to escalate, Trump may face pressure to impose sanctions or resume arms shipments to Ukraine, paused in July 2025.

The outcome of Zelensky’s August 21 White House visit will be critical in shaping U.S. policy and Trump’s stance toward Putin.

But I’m curious to know what you think, leave your thoughts and vote reaction below.

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