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The President's Daily Brief
June 2nd, 2025: Ukraine Cripples Russian Bomber Fleet In Massive Drone Blitz & Gaza Hostage Talks Stall
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Mike Baker
Tonal.com it's Monday 2nd June. Well, look at that. It's a brand new month. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. We'll start things off with a surprising blow to Russia's air force. Ukraine just pulled off its most ambitious drone strike yet, hitting strategic bomber bases thousands of miles inside Russian territory. We'll have those details later in the show. Hamas offers to release hostages, but here's no surprise, is demanding changes to the US Ceasefire plan. We'll break down what each side wants and the US Hands Iran a new nuclear deal proposal, hoping to break the deadlock. But will the Iranian regime accept terms that limit its uranium enrichment? And if they accept the deal, will they actually honor the terms of the deal and not cheat? And why is the answer no? We'll examine what's in the latest proposal. And in today's Back of the brief, the Islamic State ISIS is once again making its presence known, now turning its sights on the newly established Syrian government. Because of course, ISIS is killing other Muslims. It's their signature move. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. In what's shaping up to be one of the most devastating single days for the Russian war machine and likely the worst day in the history of the Russian air force, Ukraine pulled off a bold and highly coordinated strike deep inside Russian territory. The result? Dozens of strategic Bombers damaged or destroyed, billions of rubles in damage. And a shattering of the myth that Moscow's core military assets are beyond Ukraine's reach. Sources within Ukraine's security services told the Kyiv Post that the special operation, codenamed Web, targeted at least four air bases, including Belaya and Irkutsk in Siberia and Olenia on the Kola Peninsula near the border with Finland. Now, what each of these military bases have in common is that they house Russia's strategic long range bombers, including the TU95 and the TU22M aircraft, which form the backbone of Moscow's long range strike capability. And despite Russia's supposedly formidable air defense systems, the attackers did not use stealth jets or cutting edge hypersonic technology. They used a small quadcopter, commercially available low tech drones reportedly launched from inside Russia using trucks, vans and cargo containers. Now, first person video footage from the drones shows direct strikes on the bombers, with several aircraft erupting into flames. Satellite and social media imagery appear to corroborate the damage. Plumes of black smoke rising from runways and a growing trail of scorched tarmac. The Irkutsk strike alone is significant. That airbase sits nearly 2,500 miles from the Ukrainian border. This marks Ukraine's first confirmed strike in Siberia, and it's the deepest inside Russian territor by a wide margin. And there's a clear reason why the Ukrainians would want to strike these targets. In particular, these long range bombers are responsible for launching Russia's KH22 and KH32 cruise missiles. Those are fast long range weapons frequently used to target Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Ukraine's SBU Security Service confirmed to the Foreign Times that the agency was executing, quote, a large scale special operation to destroy enemy bomber aircraft. While the SBU claims more than 40 bombers were hit, that figure has not yet been independently confirmed. Russian state media did acknowledge the strikes, but unsurprisingly is downplaying their effectiveness. Still, publicly available video shows that the damage is real and extensive. Also reportedly among the damaged aircraft, an A50 airborne early warning and control system that's essentially Russia's version of the US awacs. Each one of these flying radar stations costs an estimated $350 million. More if you get the carpets and the cup holders. And with other bombers in Russia's fleet priced around 40 million apiece, even modest damage to a handful of aircraft could represent hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars in destroyed assets. But the operation wasn't just about equipment. These bombers can also deliver nuclear weapons. And by striking the air bases that house them. Ukraine wasn't just going after Moscow's conventional firepower. It was putting a spotlight on the vulnerability of Russia's nuclear delivery systems. And the drone blitz wasn't the only blow delivered. Just hours before the airbase attacks, explosions rocked key rail lines inside Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories held by the Russian military. In Bransk, a bridge collapsed beneath a passenger train on route to Moscow, killing at least seven and injuring many more. And and in ksk, a region that Ukraine briefly controlled before being pushed out by Russian forces, another collapsed bridge derailed a freight train. Other blasts were reported near rail hubs critical to Russian military logistics. Taken together, this appears to be a coordinated Ukrainian effort to simultaneously degrade Russia's ability to strike Ukraine from the air and to resupply its frontline positions by rail. What's perhaps most extraordinary isn't just the scale of the damage, but the precision and the reach. A synchronized drone assault across thousands of miles in multiple regions of Russia, carried out with low cost hardware and high level planning. And of course, incredibly solid intelligence signals that even Russia's most prized assets far from the front, are no longer safe. But Ukraine wasn't the only one on the offensive this weekend. Just hours before the drone swarms began lighting up Russian air bases, Moscow launched its own massive aerial assault. According to Ukraine's air force, Russia unleashed 479 aerial weapons, including seven missiles and hundreds of Iranian made shahed drones, in what officials are calling the largest drone and missile barrage since the full scale invasion began over three years ago. The attack injured at least four civilians and caused damage in 18 separate locations across Ukraine, including Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia and Odessa. One missile reportedly struck a military training facility, killing 12 Ukrainian soldiers and wounding dozens more. There's no indication of what, if any, impact this is going to have on the talks in Istanbul scheduled for today between Ukraine and Russia. But considering the scale of carnage this weekend, it's hard to imagine that either side will be arriving in a mood to talk peace or to compromise. I mean, if they arrive at all. Alright, coming up next, Hamas pushes back on the US ceasefire plan and Washington offers Iran a new nuclear deal. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let's talk about your personal finances and your hard earned savings. Now, did you know that in the last 12 months, gold's value has jumped 30% and central banks are buying gold in record amounts now with the usual ups and downs in the stock market and general uncertainty over the global economy and trade wars. And don't Forget those pesky BRICs, nations that are pushing hard to replace the US dollar as the global reserve currency. It's no wonder that thousands of Americans are turning to Birch Gold. Look, in times of uncertainty, gold can offer peace of mind. And Birch Gold Group makes it easy to convert your IRA or your 401k into a tax sheltered IRA in physical gold. Or you know, like a lot of folks, you can buy gold and store it at home. Just text BDB to the number 989898 and Birch Gold will send you a free information kit. On Gold. There's no obligation, only useful information with an A plus rating. With the Better Business Bureau and tens of thousands of happy customers, take control of protecting your hard earned Savings today. Text PDB to the number 989-898. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let's talk about trees, shall we? And plants. Oh, and don't forget shrubs. Now, did you know that Fast Growing Trees is the biggest online nursery in the U.S. it's true. With thousands of different plants and over. Get this, 2 million happy customers. They have all the plants your yard needs, like fruit trees, privacy trees, flowering trees, shrubs, and so much more. Whatever plants you're interested in, Fast Growing Trees has you covered to get your dream yard delivered directly to your door. Now, it's an excellent business and this spring they have the best deals, up to half off on select plants. And now listeners to our show get 15% off their first purchase when using code PDB at checkout. That's an additional 15% off at fast growing trees.com using the code PDB at checkout. Fast growing trees.com code PDB. And don't forget, with springtime in full swing, now's the perfect time to plant. Use PDB to save today. Offer is valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply. Welcome back to the pdb. In Hamas's formal response to the latest US Ceasefire and hostage proposal, the terror group issued a counter proposal conditionally agreeing to release Israeli hostages while demanding sweeping amendments, changes that Israeli officials say amount to an effective rejection of the proposal. The written reply, delivered to President Trump's Middle east envoy Steve Witkoff, says Hamas is prepared to release 10 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 18 more in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. But Hamas attached a laundry list of demands that go well beyond what's on the table, including a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, and uninterrupted humanitarian aid, none of which negotiators say were part of the current US Framework. Witkoff wasted no time firing back. In a post on X, he called the response, quote, totally unacceptable, adding it, quote, only takes us backward. He urged Hamas to accept the existing framework so proximity talks can begin as soon as this week. Jerusalem echoed that stance. Prime Minister Netanyahu's office said Hamas was, quote, continuing to adhere to its refusal, while Defense Minister Israel Katz put it more bluntly, stating, quote, the Hamas murderers will now be forced to choose, accept the terms of the Witkoff deal or be annihilated, end quote. Still, despite those public condemnations, back channel talks do continue. A source close to the negotiations told the Times of Israel that mediators are in ongoing contact with Hamas in hopes of narrowing the gap. So is this a no? While Israeli officials are treating it as an effective rejection, Hamas reply is being parsed as a counter proposal by mediators. Just one unlikely to get much traction. As for the deal itself, the full text has not yet been published, but sources say it includes a 60 day ceasefire and a phased hostage exchange. First, the release of 10 living and 18 deceased Israeli hostages, followed by a second release of 30 more if a permanent ceasefire is secured. In return, Israel would release over 1200 Palestinian prisoners and convicted terrorists, as well as the return of 180 bodies, while allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza under UN supervision. Critically, the Trump administration had already secured Israeli approval before bringing the deal to Hamas, limiting the window for meaningful edits. Netanyahu has signaled flexibility on a temporary truce, but insists that military operations must resume if Hamas refuses to disarm. The prime minister stated, quote, the war will end when Hamas lays down its arms, is no longer in government, and its leaders are exiled from Gaza, end quote. But inside the Strip, well, time is running out. More than 2 million Palestinians are trapped in increasingly dire conditions in the rubble filled enclave, and Hamas knows it's losing ground. Mediators say this latest US proposal is less generous than the one Hamas rejected in March. Back then, senior Hamas official Khalil Al Hayyeh said the terror group would not accept any partial deal that failed to deliver a complete and permanent end to the war. Now, though, Hamas is in no position to outright reject the plan. With Israeli troops advancing and the humanitarian crisis deepening, the group has little leverage left and even less room to maneuver. So the terror group appears to be walking a very narrow line, signaling openness to negotiation while clinging to its maximalist demands that Israel has repeatedly ruled out. For now, both sides are still talking, but few believe that they're close to a yes, okay. Shifting to Iran, the US has presented its updated formal proposal to the mullahs for elements of a new nuclear deal just hours after UN inspectors warned of a sharp and dangerous spike in Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The proposal, relayed through Oman's foreign minister, lays out Washington's terms for a halt to all Iranian uranium enrichment and introduces a bold framework, a regional nuclear consortium composed of Iran, Saudi Arabia, other Arab states and the U.S. the aim, well, the aim is to box in Iran's nuclear ambitions without triggering open confrontation. While the document isn't a full draft agreement, it does mark the first time since negotiations began in April that the Americans have committed a formal offer in writing. Sources familiar with the talk say the written offer was hammered out during the fifth round of negotiations in Rome. Iran had pushed for something in writing after Witkoff floated an oral version at the previous round. Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Arachi acknowledged receipt of the proposal in a post to X and frankly, the stakes at this point, well, couldn't be higher. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA on Saturday sounded the alarm. Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity now stands at roughly 900 pounds, up from 605 pounds in February. For better understanding, that's enough for about 10 nuclear bombs. If the material is further refined to weapons grade, compared to just five or six when President Trump returned to office in January, the threshold for weapons grade is 90% enrichment. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi didn't mince words, warning that, quote, the significantly increased production accumulation of highly enriched uranium by Iran, the only non nuclear weapons state, to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern, end quote. Well, congrats to Rafael Grossi. He's earned today's PDB statement of the obvious award. The agency's quarterly report stressed the urgent need for a, quote, diplomatic resolution under a very robust IAEA inspection system. But the Islamic regime isn't backing down. The report details how the mullahs tried to deflect scrutiny by handing over intelligence documents and press clippings claiming they proved nuclear material had been planted. Inspectors called the explanations implausible, citing a, quote, lack of technically credible answers. Iran has yet to spell out its reply to the US offer, but Arachi said Tehran would act, quote, in line with the principles, national interests and rights of the people of Iran. Over the weekend, the Islamic Republic dismissed the IAEA's findings as baseless allegations that cannot be validated, end quote. As we've been tracking here on the pdb, Iran has dug in on the issue of enrichment, insisting that producing civilian grade fuel is a sovereign right. But that stance effectively locks the country in as a nuclear threshold state, able to sprint to the bomb should it choose. That's the tightrope now confronting negotiators. The US Is demanding a full halt to enrichment, sweeping inspections and the authority to dismantle sensitive nuclear facilities. Iran, for its part, has spent billions building that infrastructure and this little sign that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is ready to sacrifice it. Notably, US Intelligence agencies are also picking up chatter about a possible Iranian crash program, an emergency push to weaponize uranium, and should diplomacy collapse. With enrichment soaring, inspectors warning of breakout capability and no clear endgame in sight, the question now is whether diplomacy can work or whether the U.S. the West and Iran are heading toward a confrontation. All right, coming up next in the back of the brief, isis. Remember them? They resurface in Syria with their first attacks on the country's new transitional government. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a very small bit of your time to talk about everyone's favorite subject. I'm talking about weight loss. Now you're, you're going to think that what I'm about to describe involves weight loss injections, but that's not the case. These remarkable weight loss testimonials that I'm sharing with you now came from a doctor formulated weight loss supplement called Lean. That's L, E a N. Look, Patty said, no last names, just Patty said, I finally found a weight loss product that works. I wanted to lose 20 pounds and lean really curbs my appetite. 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Go to getjackedup.com and sign up for their free training program. And when you're ready to purchase your own Power Rack Pro X, use my promo code Baker. That's B A K E r to save 10% at checkout. That's getjackedup.com in today's back of the Brief ISIS has claimed responsibility for two bombings in Syria, the group's first direct strikes against the country's transitional government since it took power last December. The attacks were announced in statements posted online and reported by the Site Intelligence Group. According to isis, the bombings killed and wounded Syrian government soldiers and militia members loyal to the new regime. Syrian authorities have not confirmed the claims, but reports of violence in the area do appear to match. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on a remote controlled landmine explosion on Wednesday in Sweda Province in the country's south. One man was killed and three soldiers from the Syrian Army's 70th Division were wounded. The man killed was accompanying the troops, but was not identified as a member of the military. What makes this development particularly troubling is the location. Sweden hasn't seen significant ISIS activity in nearly a decade. It's a region dominated by Syria's Druze minority and has largely operated autonomously in recent years. The Syrian government has long struggled to assert control there. That ISIS is now operating again in Sweda signals a potential expansion of its reach. The attack follows a noticeable uptick in ISIS activity since the fall of the Assad regime. After its territorial defeat back in 2019, the group shifted to a low level insurgency in eastern Syria. But the power vacuum created by Assad's collapse, well, appears to be giving it New opportunities ISIS has reportedly plotted attacks in Damascus, claimed responsibility for a car bombing in eastern Syria, and now appears to be targeting newly deployed government forces. The US at the same time maintains a military footprint in Syria with about 2000 troops in country. Although a drawdown was announced back in April, U.S. intelligence agencies have warned that the group may attempt to free thousands of its followers that are currently held in prisons across northeastern Syria. Security officials say ISIS is also trying to exploit the internal weaknesses of the new government, led by interim President Ahmed Al Shira. Once the head of Al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, Al Sharra was a bitter rival of ISIS during the civil war. Today, he's condemned by ISIS as a, quote, apostate for his cooperation with the west and for recently meeting with President Trump. For now, Syrian forces supported by U S Intelligence have managed to foil several plots, including one targeting a Shiite shrine. But roadside bombings and renewed ISIS activity well may signal a long fight ahead. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily brief for Monday 2nd June. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com now to listen to the show ad free. You know you can do that. Just become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief by visiting PDB premium.com and I hope you had a chance to catch the latest episode of our extended weekend show, the PDB Situation Report. If not, don't fret. You can always check out past episodes of the Situation report on our YouTube channel and you can find that at President's Daily Brief as well as on all your favorite podcast platforms. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.
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