In a rare move, President Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching a deadly attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, urging him to stop the violence and work towards a peace deal. This came after Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones on Kyiv, killing at least nine and injuring over 70 people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack outrageous, marking the deadliest attack in almost a year.
President Trump’s criticism of Putin also seemed to target the White House, as the Trump administration has been pushing for peace efforts to end the three-year war in Ukraine. Trump expressed doubts about Kyiv’s readiness to reach a peace deal, despite Zelensky agreeing to a cease-fire proposed by Trump more than a month ago. Trump also claimed, without proof, that Moscow was prepared to end the conflict.
The peace deal proposed by Trump outlined specific terms for Russia and Ukraine. Russia would receive formal US recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, acceptance of their occupation of four regions in eastern Ukraine, and a pledge not to support Ukraine’s membership in NATO. In exchange, Russia would see lifted sanctions and opportunities for economic cooperation with the US. Ukraine, on the other hand, would receive assistance from European military forces, a return of a small portion of occupied land, navigation rights in the Dnieper River, and aid for post-war rebuilding.
Zelensky criticized Russia for continuing to kill Ukrainian people despite agreeing to a ceasefire proposal put forth by the United States. He expressed frustration at Russia’s actions and evading accountability for their actions. The ongoing violence and lack of progress towards a peace deal have strained relations between the two nations. The situation in Ukraine remains tense as both sides seek to find a resolution to the conflict. President Trump’s public criticism of Putin and call for peace highlight the urgency of the situation and the need for diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
