Donald Trump has voiced his disapproval after Russia launched a deadly overnight missile and drone assault on Kyiv, calling it a “very bad” and “unnecessary” escalation as peace talks falter.
“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The former president directly appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, writing: “Vladimir, STOP! 5,000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the peace deal DONE!”
The hourslong Russian barrage, the deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since last July, killed at least nine people and injured over 70. It comes as U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to broker a peace deal have hit a standstill.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack was meant to increase pressure on Washington. He revealed that Ukraine had accepted a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal 44 days ago as a starting point for negotiations, but Moscow’s strikes have persisted.
Zelensky also reaffirmed Ukraine’s stance on Crimea, rejecting any suggestion of territorial concessions, following Trump’s earlier criticism over Kyiv’s refusal to consider ceding the peninsula—illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.
At a press briefing Thursday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov defended the attacks, saying Russia was targeting “military and military-adjacent” infrastructure.
The Kremlin unleashed a barrage of 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four air-to-surface missiles launched from aircraft, and 145 Shahed drones and decoys against Kyiv and four other regions of Ukraine overnight, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Kyiv endured nearly 11 hours of continuous bombardment, leaving residents on edge. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the deadly assault as “one of the most sophisticated, most brazen” since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago.
Zelensky, currently in South Africa for talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa, announced he would cut his trip short to return to Kyiv following their meeting.
“Russia sees that Ukraine is standing firm, defending its rights—and it’s applying pressure not only on our people but also on the United States,” Zelensky told reporters in South Africa. “I believe this attack is directly connected to that.”
The strikes came just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia was “very close” and nearly finalized.
Zelensky, however, firmly rejected any notion that Ukraine would concede Crimea to Moscow. Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014 and has since supported separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, sparking years of conflict.
“We are doing everything our partners have proposed, except for anything that contradicts our laws and Constitution,” Zelensky said when asked about the fate of Crimea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced frustration over what he described as a lack of strong pressure from Ukraine’s allies to curb Russia’s invasion. Speaking during his visit to South Africa, Zelensky said Western partners were falling short in responding to Moscow’s continued aggression.
“I don’t see any strong pressure on Russia or any new sanctions packages against Russia’s aggression,” Zelensky told reporters.
While acknowledging that former U.S. President Donald Trump had warned of repercussions if Moscow failed to agree to a ceasefire, Zelensky rejected Trump’s criticism of Kyiv’s position on Crimea.
Trump recently rebuked Zelensky for reaffirming Ukraine’s long-standing refusal to recognize Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. In a social media post, Trump said the Ukrainian leader’s statement was “very harmful to the peace negotiations with Russia.” He claimed Crimea had been “lost years ago and is not even a point of discussion.”
Trump, who had a contentious Oval Office meeting with Zelensky in March, further accused the Ukrainian president of “prolonging the killing field” by refusing to concede territory. He warned that Zelensky could “have peace, or he can fight for another three years before losing the whole country.”
The White House echoed Trump’s stance, with Vice President JD Vance reportedly urging Kyiv to accept territorial concessions or risk losing U.S. support entirely.
Despite mounting pressure, Zelensky remains resolute in his position. He rejected the idea of surrendering any portion of Ukraine, including Crimea, as part of a proposed U.S.-brokered peace deal.
“We will not hand over a fifth of our country to the Kremlin,” he said, firmly reiterating that Ukraine’s sovereignty and constitutional principles cannot be compromised.
Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a rocket strike that hit a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine overnight
Planned high-level peace talks in London were thrown into disarray yesterday after two senior members of Donald Trump’s foreign policy team abruptly withdrew. Peace envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been scheduled to meet with UK, European, and Ukrainian officials in a session hosted by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
However, in a dramatic and diplomatically awkward move, both officials pulled out at the last minute, sending Ukraine special envoy Keith Kellogg in their place. The decision followed Kyiv’s refusal to yield to American ultimatums demanding territorial concessions to Russia as part of a proposed peace settlement.
According to diplomatic sources, Witkoff was en route to Moscow late last night and is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow—a development likely to fuel tensions further.
The U.S. pivot has not only deepened the divide with Kyiv but also strained the transatlantic alliance, placing additional pressure on the historically close “special relationship” between Washington and London.
Meanwhile, Trump is set to hold talks later today with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Their meeting is expected to cover the war in Ukraine, U.S. tariffs, and broader geopolitical cooperation. Norway, a NATO member and vocal supporter of Ukraine, shares a 123-mile border with Russia, giving it a unique stake in the outcome of the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured today in South Africa) said today that the large-scale missile attack on Kyiv was designed to put ‘pressure’ on the United States
Meanwhile, Europe has intensified its calls for President Vladimir Putin to agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron accused the Russian leader of “lying” about his intentions for peace.
“The only thing to do is for President Putin to finally stop lying,” Macron said during a visit to Madagascar. He noted that while Putin tells U.S. negotiators he wants peace, he continues to “bombard Ukraine.”
“In Ukraine, the people are waiting for a single answer: Will President Putin agree to an unconditional ceasefire?”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also condemned a deadly overnight attack, stating it was clear that “Putin is the aggressor here.”
