Vladimir, stop: Trump says he is not happy with Russian strikes on Kyiv
US President Donald Trump on Thursday took aim at Russian President Vladimir Putin after a massive overnight attack on Kyiv killed at least eight people and injured dozens more."Vladimir, STOP!" Trump wrote in a social media post, adding, 'I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing.'The Ukrainian capital came under one of its heaviest attacks this year, with Russia launching more than 140 drones and 70 missiles overnight. The onslaught damaged residential buildings, schools, and infrastructure, and sparked over 40 fires across Kyiv and other regions. Six children were among the wounded, and rescue operations were still underway with officials saying people remained trapped under rubble.advertisement
"There has been destruction. The search is continuing for people under rubble," Ukraine's emergency services said on Telegram.Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed eight deaths in the city and said the most serious damage occurred in the Sviatoshynskyi district, where two buildings were hit. Photos showed rescue workers moving through debris and calling out to residents in damaged apartments.The attack drew sharp condemnation from Ukrainian officials. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the 'brutal strikes' proved that Russia, not Ukraine, was blocking efforts to reach a peace deal.Despite the violence, Ukraine's state railway reported that train operations were running normally, although infrastructure was damaged and two workers were injured.Other cities, including Kharkiv and Pavlohrad, also reported damage. In Kharkiv, at least 24 aerial strikes damaged homes, a polyclinic, a school, and a hotel. In the Zhytomyr region, a follow-up strike injured a firefighter who was responding to an earlier blast.The latest assault comes as both Kyiv and Moscow face increasing international pressure to pursue peace talks. Trump has warned that the US could pull back from mediation efforts if progress isn't made. European leaders held talks in London earlier this week to align their approach, though a last-minute cancellation by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dampened the outcome.(With inputs from Reuters)Tune InMust Watch
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Long before Friday's strikes, Putin discussed the mounting Middle East tensions in his calls with Trump, conversations that offered the Russian leader a chance to pivot away from the war in Ukraine and engage more broadly with Washington on global issues. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov suggested in recent days that Russia could take highly enriched uranium from Iran and convert it into civilian reactor fuel as part of a potential agreement between the United States and Iran. Prospects for negotiating a deal under which Iran would accept tighter restrictions on its nuclear programme appear dim after the Israeli strikes. But if talks resume, Russia's offer could emerge as a pivotal component of an agreement. Many observers believe the Israeli attacks will likely fuel global oil prices and help enrich Moscow at a time when its economy is struggling. It will destroy the hopes of Ukraine and its allies in Western Europe for a drop in Russian oil revenues that are essential for filling the military budget, Moscow-based military analyst Ruslan Pukhov wrote in a commentary. Some commentators in Moscow also argue the confrontation in the Middle East will likely distract Western attention and resources from the war in Ukraine and make it easier for Russia to pursue its battlefield goals. The world's attention to Ukraine will weaken, said pro-Kremlin analyst Sergei Markov. A war between Israel and Iran will help the Russian army's success in Ukraine.
