Russia killed at least 12 people in an attack on Kyiv with missiles and drones, the biggest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year, and drew a rare scolding from US President Donald Trump on Thursday, the 24th of April, when he wrote to Vladimir Putin on Truth Social, “Vladimir, STOP!”, according to Reuters.
Trump told reporters at the White House that his administration was putting “a lot of pressure” on Russia and reiterated his frustration with the attack.
“You have no idea what pressure I’m putting on Russia,” Trump said. “We are putting a lot of pressure on Russia.”
BUT HE SAID THAT SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN THE PEACE TALKS AND THAT THE KREMLIN HAD “MADE A PRETTY BIG CONCESSION” BY BEING READY “TO STOP THE WAR, TO STOP TAKING THE WHOLE COUNTRY [UKRAINE]”.
“These next few days will be very important. The meeting is happening right now,” Trump said. “I think we will reach an agreement… I think we’re very close.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking on CBS News television on Thursday, said the efforts were “moving in the right direction” but “some concrete points … need to be clarified”. He did not give further details.
The US President said that Washington was also exerting pressure on Kyiv.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also attended the White House meeting, said that further discussions were planned for the weekend and that the US wanted both Ukraine and Russia to try to reach an agreement.
After talks with Trump in Washington, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Thursday that Kyiv was working hard to reach an agreement. He said that Russia now had to answer.The attack on Kyiv injured 90 people, destroyed buildings and caused fires, Ukrainian officials said. More than 12 hours after the attack, rescuers were still pulling bodies from the rubble.
Asked if he had a deadline for the two sides, Trump replied: “I have my own deadline, and we want things to happen quickly.”
The attack came at a critical moment in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Both Kyiv and Moscow are trying to show Trump progress towards his goal of a quick peace agreement.
“I am not happy with the Russian strikes in KYIV. It was unnecessary and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5 000 soldiers die every week. Let’s make a peace DEAL!” Trump said on Truth Social, addressing the Russian president.
Asked by a journalist whether he thought Putin would listen to his call for an end to missile strikes, Trump replied affirmatively.
The White House has threatened to abandon its peace efforts if progress is not made soon. On Wednesday, Trump berated Zelenskyy when the Ukrainian leader repeated that Kyiv would not recognise the occupation of Crimea.
Trump said on Thursday that it would be very difficult for Ukraine to retake Crimea.
Trump has used a much softer tone in his remarks about Putin than he has done with Zelenskyy, whom he at one point called a “dictator”. Trump’s special envoy is expected to meet Putin on Friday to continue talks, a US official said.
MEANWHILE, IN KYIV, RESCUE TEAMS WITH DOGS AND MOUNTAINEERING EXPERTS SEARCHED 13 SITES AFTER HEARING PHONE CALLS UNDER THE RUBBLE.
Twelve people died and 40 fires broke out, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the military administration of the city of Kiev.
Russia said it carried out a massive strike overnight using missiles and drones, claiming it targeted Ukraine’s military-industrial complex. Lavrov reiterated Russia’s position that it does not target civilians.
Zelenskyy stated on X that Russia used a North Korean ballistic missile in the attack, citing preliminary information. A Ukrainian army source told Reuters that a North Korean ballistic missile KN-23 (KN-23A) hit a residential building west of the centre of Kyiv.
Zelenskyy said on Friday morning that Russia used air strikes to cover ground attacks in the east, but they were stopped.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said that in addition to the Kyiv region, seven other regions, including Kharkiv, Zhytomyr and Pavlohrad, were under “massive” attack.