President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Russia’s deadly missile strikes on Kyiv, urging Vladimir Putin to “stop” the violence though he stopped short of outlining any concrete retaliatory measures.
The overnight attacks on Ukraine’s capital killed at least 12 people and wounded 90 others, marking the deadliest assault on the city since last July. Trump, who has previously vowed to broker a swift peace deal if re-elected, stated he is applying “a lot of pressure” on both sides to end the war.
In a rare public rebuke of Putin, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!” The strikes come as international pressure mounts on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to consider territorial concessions in negotiations with Russia.
During a White House appearance alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump emphasized his neutrality, saying, “I have no allegiance to anybody only to saving lives.” While criticizing Putin, he indicated he would wait a week to assess progress toward a deal but warned that “things will happen” if the bombings continue.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to meet with Putin in Moscow on Friday in an effort to advance stalled peace talks.
Zelensky, who cut short a trip to South Africa following the attacks, urged stronger U.S. action to pressure Russia into a ceasefire. “If more pressure is applied to Russia, we’ll be able to make our positions closer,” he told reporters. He stressed that Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate at all constitutes a “huge compromise” but insisted a ceasefire must precede any further discussions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, defended the strikes, claiming Moscow only targets “military goals or civilian sites used by the military” though he provided no evidence. Lavrov also suggested that Russia is open to a U.S.-backed peace deal but said certain aspects still need “fine-tuning.”
The escalating violence underscores the challenges in brokering a resolution to the conflict, even as Trump reiterates his belief that he alone can secure a deal.
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