US President Donald Trump has condemned the recent Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, urging President Vladimir Putin to stop the attacks.
Overnight, the strikes on the Ukrainian capital killed at least 12 people and injured 90, marking the deadliest assault Kyiv has experienced since July 2024.
Trump, appearing alongside Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the White House, expressed concern over the violence and wrote in a post on Truth Social, “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!” The US president stressed that he was “putting a lot of pressure” on both sides to bring an end to the war.
The attack comes at a time when the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are under increased scrutiny, as Ukraine faces mounting pressure to consider territorial concessions as part of a peace deal.
Trump, who had previously pledged to quickly mediate a peace deal, expressed frustration but refrained from specifying whether further actions would be taken if the bombings continued.
While visiting South Africa, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the attacks, stating that he believes the US could apply more forceful pressure on Russia to secure a ceasefire.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine was open to negotiations but made it clear that any ceasefire would require Russia to stop its missile strikes.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defended the military actions, claiming that Russia only targets military sites or civilian areas used by the military, though he provided no evidence for this statement.
Lavrov also indicated that some adjustments were needed before Russia could agree to a US-proposed peace deal.
The ongoing violence has strained the relationship between Trump and Zelensky, as the US president has suggested that Ukraine must accept Russian territorial control as part of any deal.
While the US has long been a close ally of Ukraine, Trump’s statements have raised questions about future American involvement in the conflict.
Meanwhile, President Zelensky’s visit to South Africa highlighted the country’s efforts to strengthen relations with nations that have strong ties to Russia.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his concern about the conflict and reiterated South Africa’s commitment to facilitating peace talks.
Despite strained relations with Washington, South Africa maintains a neutral stance, positioning itself as a potential mediator in the ongoing war.
BBC News
