U.S. President Donald Trump has directly called out Russian President Vladimir Putin over renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine. The strikes come at a time when fragile peace efforts were beginning to gain traction, prompting fears that the conflict could spiral further out of control.
Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote:“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!”
The post, written in Trump’s typical emphatic style, marks one of the clearest and most public condemnations he has made of Putin since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the latest wave of Russian strikes involved more than 40 cruise missiles and a series of Iranian-made drones targeting key infrastructure and residential areas in Kyiv and surrounding regions.
At least 12 civilians were killed, with over 50 more reported injured. Emergency responders were seen digging through rubble and battling fires throughout the night.
The Kremlin defended the strikes as “strategic military operations,” but global outrage has been swift. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described the attack as “a gross escalation” and “a direct attempt to undermine ongoing peace efforts.” EU leaders echoed the sentiment, calling for an emergency summit to reassess security and humanitarian support to Ukraine.
Trump’s remarks come amid mounting criticism of his past reluctance to confront Putin directly.
In the same breath, however, Trump also took a swipe at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of obstructing peace by refusing to negotiate territorial concessions, particularly regarding Crimea — a region annexed by Russia in 2014.
“Peace will not come by one side refusing to budge,” Trump said in a follow-up message. “Sometimes you have to make a deal. That’s how we avoid thousands more dying for nothing.”
The President’s dual criticism of both Kyiv and Moscow highlights the delicate and complex dynamics of the war. While his supporters praise his push for diplomacy and pragmatism, critics argue that any pressure on Ukraine to cede territory only empowers Moscow and undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have doubled down on their position that any peace agreement must involve the full restoration of their 1991 borders, including Crimea and the eastern Donbas region. In a televised statement, Zelenskyy vowed to “never bow to blackmail or bombs.”
With tensions boiling, and both the military and diplomatic fronts in flux, all eyes are now on global leaders — including Trump — to see whether influence, diplomacy, or continued warfare will shape the months ahead.
