Trump Calls on Putin to “STOP” After Deadly Attack on Kyiv

Russia launched a massive overnight strike against Kyiv, killing at least 12 people in what officials described as the largest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year. The assault prompted an unusual public rebuke from Donald Trump, who directly addressed the Russian president with “Vladimir, STOP!”

The attack, which Trump called “not necessary” and “very bad timing” as he pursues peace negotiations, injured 90 people, damaged buildings, and ignited fires across the city. Rescue workers were still recovering bodies from the rubble more than 12 hours later.

This strike comes at a critical juncture in Russia’s war in Ukraine, which began with Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Both Kyiv and Moscow are attempting to demonstrate to Trump that they are making progress toward his goal of a swift peace agreement.

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

The White House has threatened to abandon peace efforts without prompt progress. Trump criticized Zelenskiy on Wednesday after the Ukrainian leader reiterated that Kyiv would not recognize Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

Trump has employed notably gentler language when discussing Putin compared to Zelenskyy, whom he once called a “dictator.” A U.S. official indicated Trump’s special envoy is scheduled to meet Putin on Friday for further discussions.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided against attending talks between American, Ukrainian, and European officials in London on Wednesday, reportedly due to American frustration over Zelenskiy’s Crimea comments.

The talks proceeded in a reduced format, and Zelenskiy stated Thursday that the meeting with a U.S. representative had been challenging but constructive. He believes a document with proposals from the talks has now reached Trump’s desk.

“Anything that contradicts our values or our constitution cannot be included in any agreement,” Zelenskiy told a press conference in South Africa, which he left early following the Russian strike. He added that he did not see evidence of Washington exerting significant pressure on Russia.

When asked if he thought Putin would heed his appeal to stop missile strikes, Trump responded, “I do.” He also mentioned having his “own deadline” for achieving a Russia-Ukraine peace settlement, without specifying what it was.

Emergency teams were operating at 13 sites in Kyiv with climbing specialists and sniffer dogs. Forty fires had erupted across the city.

“Mobile telephones are heard ringing beneath rubble. The search will continue until it becomes clear that they have got everyone,” emergency services reported.

Russia’s Defence Ministry stated it conducted what it described as a massive overnight strike against Ukraine’s military-industrial complex using various long-range precision weapons and drones.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, updated the death toll: “Rescuers have retrieved two more bodies from under the rubble in the Sviatoshynskyi district. We now have 12 dead.”

The strikes caused fires in garages and administrative buildings, with falling debris damaging vehicles.

“There was the air raid siren; we did not even have time to dress to go out of the apartment. One blast came after the other; all windows were blown out, doors, walls, my husband and son were thrown to the other side,” said Kyiv resident Viktoria Bakal.

A Ukrainian military source told Reuters that the missile striking a residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district was a North Korean KN-23 (KN-23A) ballistic missile.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted on X that the “brutal strikes” demonstrated that Russia, not Ukraine, was obstructing peace.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 145 drones and 70 missiles, including 11 ballistic missiles, in the overnight attack. Air defense units intercepted 112 targets.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko noted that beyond Kyiv and its surrounding region, seven other regions faced “mass” attacks. Damage was reported in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city; the Zhytomyr region west of Kyiv; and the industrial city of Pavlohrad in the central Dnipropetrovsk region.