President Donald Trump expressed his discontent on Thursday regarding Russia’s recent missile and drone attack on Kyiv, Ukraine. He described the assault as "not necessary" and criticized the timing of the offensive by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The attack, which occurred early Thursday morning, resulted in the deaths of at least eight people and injured around 70 others, marking one of the deadliest bombing incidents in Ukraine since last summer. This escalation comes as the Trump administration attempts to broker a peace deal to end a war that has now lasted four years.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “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 assault on Kyiv involved more than 70 missiles, with Ukraine’s defense system intercepting 48 of them. Additionally, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that they shot down 64 out of 140 drones used in the attack. Among the wounded were six children and a pregnant woman. The State Emergency Service is continuing its search for individuals trapped under the rubble, as mobile phones can be heard ringing beneath the debris.
Steve Witkoff, a special envoy from the Trump administration, is scheduled to meet with Putin in Moscow this week, although it remains uncertain if the recent attack will affect those plans. High-ranking officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have warned that the U.S. may withdraw from negotiations if there is no progress in talks between Ukraine and Russia.
Following the attack, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that the brutal strikes demonstrate that Russia is the true barrier to peace, asserting that pressure should be applied to Moscow rather than Kyiv.
Trump’s frustration has been growing with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Earlier this week, he criticized Zelensky for his statements about Crimea, calling them harmful to peace negotiations. Trump emphasized that Crimea was lost during former President Barack Obama’s administration and should not be a point of discussion. He urged Zelensky to choose between pursuing peace or continuing a war that could lead to further losses for Ukraine.
In related news, journalist Ben Shapiro recently visited Kyiv for an exclusive interview with Zelensky. The interview, which will be released in two parts, covers various topics, including the significant financial support Ukraine is receiving from American taxpayers and the ongoing efforts for peace with Russia.