DONALD Trump has hailed Ukraine’s daring “Operation Spiderweb” attack as “strong and badass”.

The US president lauded Volodymyr Zelensky for devising a strategic drone attack plan, yet cautioned that this action has only provoked Vladimir Putin further.

The Kremlin dictator held a 75 minute phone call with Trump on Wednesday as they discussed rising tensions in Ukraine.

Top of the agenda was reportedly the 117 drone blitz over the weekend which left four of Russia’s key airbases up in flames.

The daring Operation Spiderweb saw a fired up Ukraine wreck 41 Russian planes across the strategic airfields.

Putin’s doomsday bomber fleet was crippled with a third of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks.

Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia.

Trump is believed to have been impressed by the cunning plot which took over 18 months to pull off under Zelensky’s watchful eye.

One source revealed to Axios that Trump told him the assault was “pretty strong”.

Another said the president “thought it was badass”.

A third anonymous confidant close to the Trump administration also praised the attack.

They said: “From an international perspective, you’ve got a chihuahua inflicting some real damage on a much bigger dog.”

Despite receiving the impressive plaudits from their American allies, Trump also made it clear it will have only increased Putin’s rage.

Trump reportedly told one source: “We want this war to end. We want it to de-escalate.

“So if Putin goes crazy in response, yeah, the president has concerns.”

A senior White House official has also spoken out since and said Trump won’t be too happy about another escalation in the war.

“He wants the fighting to stop, so it disappoints him whenever there is an attack like that,” they said.

Trump has spent the past few months since he returned to office trying to balance his relationship with both Moscow and Kyiv.

In his latest attempt to draw both sides closer to a ceasefire he spoke with Putin over the phone.

Trump revealed that the despot made it clear he feels he “will have to respond” to the audacious drone assault.

Inside Operation Spiderweb

By Foreign News Reporter, James Halpin

UKRAINE’S shock sleeper drone blitz on Russia’s bomber fleet has delivered a hammer blow to Vladimir Putin’s nuclear arsenal.

The operation, reminiscent of SAS tactics, targeted four airfields deep within Russia, echoing some of the boldest missions during World War II that shifted the momentum against the Nazis.

Volodymyr Zelensky oversaw Operation Spiderweb – much like Winston Churchill did as Britain struck deep behind enemy lines.

Putin’s doomsday bomber fleet is now crippled with 41, or a third, of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks on tarmac.

Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia – caused by only 117 cheaply made drones.

Ukraine’s spies spent 18 months putting the plan into action and struck on the eve of fresh peace talks in Istanbul.

The drones and the containers were smuggled into Russia separately and were pieced together right under Vlad’s nose.

Clueless lorry drivers then parked the containers next to Russian airbases – where they sat and waited in plain sight.

On the morning of June 1, a group of aerial explosive devices took flight over remote areas of Russia, marking the commencement of one of the war’s most audacious military operations.

Nondescript shipping containers parked in laybys and verges had attracted little attention – before their lids blew open and the drone swarms poured out.

The craft buzzed as they took off into the air and only had to travel a short distance to their valuable targets.

Each of the 117 drones had their own dedicated pilot and Russia had little defences to protect their bases and stop them.

Drones with cameras sent video back to HQ in Ukraine of the moment craft struck their targets and explosions ripped into the sky.

Thick black smoke climbed high, with civilians near the bases sending video of Ukraine’s successes around the world.

The furthest strike was Belaya Air Base – so far inside Russia that the closest neighbouring country is Mongolia.

Olenya Air Base near Finland and Ivanovo and Dyagilevo near Moscow were also struck in the country’s west.

It comes as The Sun laid out the six possible methods Putin may use to respond to the enemy.

The tyrant could retaliate with one of his terrifying tactical nukes, launch a deadly 7,600mph missile or even order a renewed 50,000 troop assault to overpower his enemies.

The Kremlin gave a chilling response earlier today regarding how they may respond.

A spokesperson said: “Russian Federation will respond to the attack on airfields when and in the way that the military deems appropriate.”

And overnight, Vlad already launched his first retaliatory strikes on several residential regions.

The worst saw a baby, their mum and grandma all killed due to a Shahed kamikaze drone blast which caused their home to collapse.

Two others were also found dead in Chernihiv with another 17 seriously wounded in Kharkiv.