‘Vladimir, STOP!’: Trump sends message to Putin after deadliest strikes on Kyiv in months

Donald Trump has slammed Vladimir Putin in a rare outburst after Russia launched its deadliest strike on Ukraine’s capital in months.

US President Donald Trump has called on Vladimir Putin to halt attacks on Ukraine, in a rare rebuke of the Russian leader after Moscow fired missiles and drones at Kyiv in the deadliest attack on the capital in months.

Mr Trump’s direct appeal to Mr Putin came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his allies to put Russia under more pressure to halt its invasion.

Mr Zelensky cut short a trip to South Africa to deal with the aftermath of the strikes, the latest in a wave of Russian aerial attacks that have killed dozens of civilians.

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes,” Mr Trump said on social media. “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!”

Mr Trump, who is accused of favouring Russia and has often vilified Mr Zelensky, was asked by reporters what concessions Moscow had offered in negotiations to end the war.

“Stopping taking the whole country – pretty big concession,” he replied.

Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, hoping to take the country in days, but has since been bogged down in a bloody war with huge casualties on both sides.

Donald Trump has made a rare rebuke to Vladimir Putin. Picture: Saul Loeb/AFP

Mr Trump told the Russian leader to “STOP!”. Picture: Gavriil Grigorov/Pool/AFP

Mr Trump on Wednesday accused Mr Zelensky of frustrating peace efforts by ruling out recognising Russia’s claim over Crimea, a territory the US president said was “lost years ago.”

In contrast, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Thursday it was Russia, not Ukraine, that needed to move forward in negotiations.

“The balls are clearly in the Russian court now,” Rutte told reporters at the White House after meeting Trump.

Russia launched its deadliest attack on Kyiv in months. Picture: Reuters

At least 12 people died in the strikes, according to Ukraine’s emergency services. Picture: Reuters

Ceasefire deal

Mr Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is due in Russia this week where he is expected to hold another round of ceasefire talks with Putin.

Ukraine has been battered by aerial attacks throughout Russia’s three-year invasion but strikes on Kyiv, better protected by air defences than other cities, are less common.

Mr Zelensky said Russia used a North Korean ballistic missile in the strikes, which killed at least 12.

The assault threw more doubt on US efforts to push Russia and Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire, after Mr Trump lashed out at Mr Zelensky this week for not being willing to accept Russian occupation of Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

“We do everything that our partners have proposed, only what contradicts our legislation and the Constitution we cannot do,” Mr Zelensky said in response to a question about Crimea.

Mr Zelensky also questioned whether Kyiv’s allies were themselves doing enough to force Mr Putin to agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire.

“I don’t see any strong pressure on Russia or any new sanctions packages against Russia’s aggression,” Mr Zelensky said, highlighting that Mr Trump had previously warned of repercussions if Moscow did not agree to pause the fighting.

Mr Zelensky also questioned whether Kyiv’s allies were themselves doing enough to force Mr Putin to agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire. Picture: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/AFP

‘Pulled out of the rubble’

Loud blasts sounded over the Ukrainian capital around 1am (2200 GMT) after air raid sirens rang out across Kyiv, AFP journalists said.

Russia fired at least 70 missiles and 145 drones at Ukraine between late Wednesday and early Thursday, the main target being Kyiv, the Ukrainian air force said.

“As of 5.30pm, the death toll in Kyiv’s Sviatoshinsky district has risen to 12,” Ukraine’s state emergency services reported, with the number of wounded rising to 90.

Mr Zelensky said Russia used a North Korean ballistic missile in the strikes. Picture: Stringer/AFP

Ukrainian rescuers operate at the site of a Russian missile attack in Kyiv on April 24. Picture: Stringer/AFP

Russia said it had targeted Ukraine’s defence industry, including plants that produced “rocket fuel and gunpowder.”

Olena Davydiuk, a 33-year-old lawyer in Kyiv, told AFP she saw windows breaking and doors “falling out of their hinges.”

“People were being pulled out of the rubble,” she added.

Moscow has launched some of its deadliest aerial strikes over the last month, defying Mr Trump’s push to bring about a rapid end to the bloodshed.

A ballistic missile strike on the centre of northeastern city of Sumy killed at least 35 on April 13.

Originally published as ‘Vladimir, STOP!’: Trump sends message to Putin after deadliest strikes on Kyiv in months