President Donald Trump made an urgent public appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, calling for an immediate halt to the bombardment of Ukraine’s capital. His comments came after a deadly strike in Kyiv killed at least 12 people and injured dozens more during one of the largest attacks on the city this year.
In a message posted online, Trump expressed concern over the timing and scale of the assault, emphasizing the human cost of continued fighting. “Too many lives are being lost every week,” he said. “It’s time to reach a peace agreement.”
The nighttime barrage, carried out using missiles and drones, targeted residential areas in Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities. Authorities reported widespread damage, including collapsed buildings and fires. Emergency crews were still searching through debris for survivors hours after the attack.
Trump’s remarks stood in contrast to his earlier approach, which focused more on encouraging both parties to negotiate. This time, he placed direct pressure on Moscow while continuing to call for a fast resolution to the conflict. He later met with Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, a NATO member leader who has voiced strong support for Ukraine.
Speaking from the White House, Trump said he believed both Russia and Ukraine were aware that a peace deal must be reached soon. He also mentioned that progress had been made in negotiations, though the details remain unclear.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had been on a diplomatic visit to South Africa, shortened his trip to return home in response to the attack. He confirmed that Ukraine had previously agreed to a ceasefire plan introduced by the U.S., but accused Russia of failing to respect it.
“Our side has shown restraint and a willingness to engage,” Zelenskyy said. “But attacks like these prove we are still far from genuine dialogue.”
During the ongoing talks in London, U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials continued discussions on a possible framework for ending the war. However, the idea of allowing Russia to retain control over occupied territories remains a key sticking point. Kyiv has repeatedly rejected such proposals.
The French government echoed Ukraine’s stance, with President Emmanuel Macron stating that Russia’s military actions contradict its stated interest in peace. France’s foreign ministry added that any lasting agreement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, rescue operations in Kyiv continued into the evening. Residents described waking to the sound of explosions and being forced to flee their homes. “We didn’t have time to grab anything,” said one woman whose building was destroyed. “There was just the sound of glass breaking and people shouting.”
As efforts to broker a peace deal continue, the civilian toll in Ukraine rises. Leaders from around the world are urging a stop to the violence, but so far, the conflict shows no signs of slowing.
Image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license and was created by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
