Russia Hits American Factory in Ukraine as Trump Hardens Tone Toward Putin
Russia launched missile and drone strikes on western Ukraine on Thursday, damaging an American-owned plant and injuring 15 people in attacks that further complicated the push for peace talks, even as President Trump lamented Ukraine’s lack of offensive weapons. The attack on the city of Mukachevo and the surrounding region involved 574 drones and 40 missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force, which added that most but not all of them were intercepted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes “practically burned down an American company producing electronics -- home appliances” that did not house military weapons or personnel.
“The Russians knew exactly where they lobbed the missiles,” Zelenskyy said. “We believe this was a deliberate attack against American property and investments in Ukraine.”
Trump hosted Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House this week to talk about strategies for ending the war, including discussions of security guarantees and the possibility of trilateral peace negotiations with Russia. Last week, Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Meanwhile, Trump’s patience with Putin appears to be thinning -- at least according to his Truth Social posts. On Thursday, he posted a photo of himself pointing sharply at Putin during a closed-door meeting -- juxtaposed with the famous 1959 shot of then-Vice President Richard Nixon pointing sharply at Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
Ten minutes prior to this photo post, Trump suggested that Ukraine should have been given offensive weapons.
“It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invaders country. It’s like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defense, but is not allowed to play offense,” he wrote on Truth Social. “There is no chance of winning! It is like that with Ukraine and Russia. Crooked and grossly incompetent Joe Biden would not let Ukraine FIGHT BACK, only DEFEND. How did that work out? Regardless, this is a war that would have NEVER happened if I were President -- ZERO CHANCE. Interesting times ahead!!!”
New media post from Donald J. Trump
— Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) August 21, 2025
(TS: 21 Aug 09:45 ET) pic.twitter.com/ePrUIQ33xo
Zelenskyy, for his part, continued to call for trilateral peace negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and outside parties.
“The signals coming from Russia are simply outrageous,” Zelenskyy said. “They are trying to wriggle out of holding a meeting. They don’t want to end this war. They continue their massive attacks on Ukraine and their ferocious assaults along the frontline.”
In Mukachevo, the Russians practically burned down an American company producing electronics—home appliances, nothing military. The Russians knew exactly where they lobbed the missiles. We believe this was a deliberate attack against American property and investments in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/1TiadwmAqk
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 21, 2025
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Anadolu/Contributor
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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Originally published August 22, 2025.
