By Victor Akan
United States President Donald Trump is not happy with deadly Russian Strikes on Kyiv and said that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin must stop it.
Overnight into Thursday, the attacks on the Ukrainian capital killed at least 12 people and injured dozens of others.
The US president said he is “putting a lot of pressure” on both sides to end the war in Ukraine, following the deadliest attacks Kyiv has been under since last July.
It is the latest road bump in efforts to advance a peace deal between the two nations, something the US president said he would be able to quickly do as part of his election campaign last year.
He criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin and wrote on his Truth social: “Not necessary and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!”
This attack has come at a time when both sides are exerting pressure on Kyiv to agree to a ceasefire with Russia in an attempt to force Zelensky to accept Russian occupation of its territory as part of a peace deal.
On Thursday, Trump, during his joint media interaction with Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas GahrStøre at the White House, said he had “no allegiance to anybody”, only an “allegiance to saving lives.”
While he admitted frustration with Putin, Trump said he would wait a week “to see if we have a” deal”—but that “things will happen” if the bombings do not end.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to hold talks with Putin in Moscow later on Friday.
Zelensky on Thursday responded by saying that he felt the US could be more forceful with Russia to secure a ceasefire.
“We believe that if more pressure is applied to Russia, we’ll be able to make our positions closer,” Zelensky told reporters.
When asked if he would be willing to make any concessions, Zelensky said the fact that Ukraine is prepared to negotiate with Russia at all is a “huge compromise” and a “ceasefire must be the first step.”
“If Russia says it is ready to cease fire, it must stop massive strikes against Ukraine. It is Ukrainians who are running out of patience, because it is us who are under attack, and no one else,” he added.
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