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Trump says he is 'not happy' with deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv Trump says he is 'not happy' with deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv
(about 3 hours later)
US President Donald Trump has said he is "not happy" with deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv and that President Vladimir Putin should "stop". US President Donald Trump has said he is "not happy" with deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv and that President Vladimir Putin should "stop" - but has not said if further action might taken against Russia.
"Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!" he said in a post on Truth Social, adding: "Let's get the Peace Deal DONE!" Overnight into Thursday, the attacks on the Ukrainian capital killed at least 12 people and injured dozens of others.
The overnight strikes killed at least eight people and injured 77 more, local officials said. 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 seen since last July.
Later on Thursday Trump refused to say whether the US is considering placing more sanctions on Russia, but warned "things will happen" if the bombings don't end. It is the latest road bump in efforts to advance a peace deal between the two countries - something the US president said he would be able to quickly do as part of his election campaign last year.
Trump also said he had "no allegiance" to either side but was focused on bringing an end to the conflict. In rare criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social: "Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!"
Earlier, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US could be more forceful with Russia to secure a ceasefire. The attack has come at a time of growing pressure on Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept Russian occupation of its territory as part of a peace deal.
"We believe that if more pressure is applied to Russia, we'll be able to make our positions closer," Zelensky told reporters on a visit to South Africa. On Thursday, Trump appeared alongside Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the White House and said he had "no allegiance to anybody" only an "allegiance to saving lives".
When asked if he would be willing to make any concessions, Zelensky said the fact that Ukraine is prepared to negotiate with Russia is a "huge compromise" and a "ceasefire must be the first step". 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.
Zelensky cut short his South Africa visit after the Kyiv attack, which he said was "undoubtedly one of the most difficult and impudent". President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the attacks during a visit to South Africa, saying he felt the US could be more forceful with Russia to secure a ceasefire.
South Africa and Ukraine woo each other - as relationships with Trump turn sour
"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."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.
Follow live updates The attack caused Zelensky to cut his trip short and return home.
Trump on Wednesday had accused the Ukrainian leader of harming peace negotiations, after Zelensky said Kyiv would not recognise Russian control of Crimea. Zelensky met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria
Before the attack on Kyiv, the week had seen a fraying of the already imperilled relationship between Trump and Zelensky - as the US president has suggested the need for Ukraine to make land concessions as part of a peace deal.
On Wednesday, Trump claimed a deal to end the war was "very close", but that Zelensky's refusal to accept US terms "will do nothing but prolong" the conflict.
Ukraine has long said it will not give up Crimea, a southern peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.Ukraine has long said it will not give up Crimea, a southern peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.
Trump claimed a deal to end the war was "very close", but that Zelensky's refusal to accept US terms "will do nothing but prolong" the conflict. On Wednesday, US Vice-President JD Vance laid out the US vision for a deal, saying it would "freeze the territorial lines [...] close to where they are today", and added that Ukraine and Russia "are both going to have to give up some of the territory they currently own".
Earlier, US Vice-President JD Vance laid out the US vision for a deal, saying it would "freeze the territorial lines [...] close to where they are today". Trump criticises Zelensky as Ukraine refuses Russian control of Crimea
When asked by reporters at the White House this week about whether the administration was looking to recognise Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, Trump said he just wanted to see the war end.When asked by reporters at the White House this week about whether the administration was looking to recognise Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, Trump said he just wanted to see the war end.
Recognising Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea would not only be politically impossible for Zelensky to accept, it would also be contrary to post-war international legal norms that borders should not be changed by force.Recognising Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea would not only be politically impossible for Zelensky to accept, it would also be contrary to post-war international legal norms that borders should not be changed by force.
Zelensky said a meeting about ending the conflict between Ukrainian, US, UK and European officials in London on Wednesday was "difficult but constructive, and it resulted not in differences but a desire to continue working nonetheless". "We've shown them the finish line," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday in the Oval Office, where he appeared alongside Trump and the Norwegian prime minister.
"We've shown them the finish line," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday in the Oval Office, where he appeared alongside Trump and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre.
"We need both of them to say yes, but what happened last night with those missile strikes should remind everybody of why this war needs to end.""We need both of them to say yes, but what happened last night with those missile strikes should remind everybody of why this war needs to end."
Zelensky met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria President Zelensky's visit to South Africa, during which he met President Cyril Ramaphosa, signalled a dramatic improvement in the once-strained relations between the two nations.
The Ukrainian president had travelled on his first visit to South Africa, where he met President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa said during a news briefing alongside Zelensky that he was deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He also reiterated South Africa's commitment to speaking to all parties in the conflict.Ramaphosa said during a news briefing alongside Zelensky that he was deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He also reiterated South Africa's commitment to speaking to all parties in the conflict.
He added that he had spoken to both Putin and Trump on the need to bring an end to the conflict.He added that he had spoken to both Putin and Trump on the need to bring an end to the conflict.
Ramaphosa in the briefing would not be drawn on whether Ukraine should cede territory to Russia. He also said his call with Trump was not tied to Zelensky's visit, adding that the call had been months in the planning. Ramaphosa, in the briefing, did not go into whether Ukraine should cede territory to Russia.
Zelensky's visit would have been unimaginable just two years ago, when Ramaphosa led a delegation of African leaders to Kyiv on a self-styled peace mission.
At the time, South Africa's refusal to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine was a source of frustration for Kyiv.
But the geopolitical landscape has fundamentally changed since that meeting, and both countries now have a lot more in common.
There was some hope before the meeting that South Africa would extend a symbolic gesture to Ukraine, such as inviting it to the G20 summit later this year, which South Africa is hosting. But that invitation never came.
The fact that Zelensky was on South African soil may be seen by some to be a good enough sign of thawing relations, given South Africa and other African countries have refused to take sides in the war.
The US was one of Ukraine's closest allies until the re-election of Trump in November. Now Ukraine is keen to broaden its pool of international partners - particularly in Africa where many countries have strong links with Russia.The US was one of Ukraine's closest allies until the re-election of Trump in November. Now Ukraine is keen to broaden its pool of international partners - particularly in Africa where many countries have strong links with Russia.
South Africa has also suffered from strained relations with Washington, which has expelled its ambassador and removed aid funding.South Africa has also suffered from strained relations with Washington, which has expelled its ambassador and removed aid funding.
South Africa says its non-aligned position puts it in a prime position to help bring about a peace deal with Russia.South Africa says its non-aligned position puts it in a prime position to help bring about a peace deal with Russia.