Russia assault in Kyiv claims 12 lives; Trump urges Putin: Cease hostilities immediately
In the midst of current turmoil, Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing at least 12 people and wounding 90. The brutal assault, taking place at an inopportune moment as peace talks intensify, has drawn severe criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump, expressing his displeasure at the attack, told Russian President Vladimir Putin in no uncertain terms: "Vladimir, cease fire!!" The White House has applied substantial pressure on Russia, with Trump reiterating the gravity of the situation during a press conference.
However, Trump also highlighted significant progress made in peace negotiations and commended the Kremlin for expressing openness to stopping the war and taking control of the entire country, stating, "This next few days is going to be very important. Meetings are taking place right now. I think we're getting very close."
As negotiations progress, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced further discussions scheduled for the weekend. The U.S. urges both Ukraine and Russia to finalize a peace agreement, with Kyiv reportedly putting forth substantial effort in this regard.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed that Kyiv is making concerted efforts towards a deal, expressing optimism that the Russian government might take the opportunity to cease hostilities.
The Kyiv attack arrived at a critical juncture in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which began with Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022. Both parties are striving to demonstrate to President Trump that they are on the path to achieving a swift peace deal.
In a tweet addressed to the Russian president, Trump expressed his discontent with the Russian strikes on Kyiv, stating that they were "not necessary" and "very poorly timed." He urged Putin to halt the attacks, emphasizing the high casualty rate in the ongoing war: "5,000 soldiers die per week. Let's get the Peace Deal DONE!"
The White House has threatened to abandon its efforts if no meaningful progress is made soon. Meanwhile, Trump reprimanded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for failing to recognize Russia's occupation of Crimea during a meeting on Wednesday.
Trump has maintained a markedly softer tone when discussing Putin compared to Zelenskyy, whom he once referred to as a "dictator." Trump's special envoy is scheduled to meet Putin on Friday for further discussions.
Tensions escalated when Senator Marco Rubio decided to skip talks between U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials in London on Wednesday due to American displeasure with Zelenskyy's comment about Crimea.
Negotiations in London proceeded in a scaled-down format, while Zelenskyy stated that he believed a proposal emerging from the talks was now with Trump. Zelenskyy cut short his trip to South Africa following the Russian attack.
Rescue teams worked tirelessly at 13 sites in Kyiv, using climbing specialists and sniffer dogs. Forty fires had broken out, with mobile phones still ringing beneath the rubble. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for the massive overnight strike on Ukraine's military-industrial complex, using air, land, and sea-based long-range high-precision weapons and drones.
Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the Kyiv city military administration, confirmed 12 deaths. Kyiv resident Viktoria Bakal recounted her experience during the attack: "There was the air raid siren. We didn't even have time to dress to leave the apartment. One blast followed another, shattering all windows, doors, and walls. My husband and son were thrown to the other side."
Zelenskyy alleged that Russia used a North Korean ballistic missile in the attack, citing preliminary information. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 145 drones and 70 missiles, including 11 ballistic missiles, in the overnight attack, with air force units successfully shooting down 112 targets.
Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine's interior minister, reported that apart from Kyiv and the surrounding region, seven other regions were under "mass" attack. Damage was reported in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, as well as the Zhytomyr region west of Kyiv and the industrial city of Pavlohrad in the central Dnipropetrovsk region.
Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko confirmed that Ukraine and the U.S. had made progress on a critical minerals agreement but it would not be finalized this week.
- Trump's disapproval of the attack was evident as he told Putin to cease fire, emphasizing the gravity of the situation in war-and-conflicts and politics, particularly the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- The U.S. urges both Ukraine and Russia to finalize a peace agreement, with Kyiv putting forth substantial effort in the general-news format, as negotiations in London proceeded.
- The Russian intervention in the northeastern regions, including the use of minerals such as ballistic missiles, has drawn severe criticism from the international community, with Ukraine's air force reporting the launch of 145 drones and 70 missiles.
- Despite the progress made in peace negotiations, the recent missile and drone attack on Kyiv, which claimed at least 12 lives and injured 90, has raised concerns about Putin's commitment to stopping the ongoing war and conflict, a matter of utmost importance in the current political landscape.
