Trump urges Putin to ‘STOP!’ after lethal assault on Kyiv

[ad_1] WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday supplied rare criticism of Vladimir Putin , urging the Russian chief to “STOP!” after a lethal barrage of assaults on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.

“I'm not proud of the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not crucial, and really unhealthy timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 troopers every week are dying.” Trump stated in a put up on his Fact Social platform. “Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!”

A rescue employee clears the rubble of a home broken by a Russian strike on a residential neighbourhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Picture/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Learn Extra Russia struck Kyiv with an hourslong barrage of missiles and drones. Not less than 12 folks have been killed and 90 have been injured within the deadliest assault on the city since final July.

Trump’s frustration is rising as a U.S.-led effort to get a peace settlement between Ukraine and Russia has not made progress.

Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday and accused him of prolonging the “killing subject” by refusing to give up the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula as a part of a doable deal. Russia illegally annexed that space in 2014.

AP AUDIO: In uncommon criticism of Putin, Trump urges the Russian chief to ‘STOP!’ after a lethal assault on Kyiv

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani stories on President Trump’s uncommon criticism of Vladimir Putin after Russian strikes on Ukraine.

Along with his assertion that Putin demonstrated “very unhealthy timing” with the large assault, Trump appeared to counsel that the Russian chief was doing himself no favors towards reaching the Kremlin’s demand that any peace settlement embrace Russia retaining management of Crimea in addition to Ukrainian territory within the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson areas it has seized since invading in February 2022.

Trump afterward Thursday supplied a barely extra optimistic tone concerning the prospects that an settlement may ultimately be labored out.

“We're considering that, very strongly, that they each need peace,” the president stated at first of a lunch with visiting Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. He added, “However they must get to the desk. We’re ready a very long time.”

Zelenskyy has repeated many instances that recognizing occupied territory as Russia’s is a pink line for Ukraine. He famous Thursday that Ukraine had agreed to a U.S. ceasefire proposal 44 days in the past as a primary step to a negotiated peace, however that Moscow’s assaults had continued.

A residential home closely broken after a Russian strike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Picture/Alex Babenko)

Learn Extra Trump’s criticism of Putin is notable as a result of Trump has repeatedly stated Russia, the aggressor within the battle, is extra prepared than Ukraine to get a deal finished.

“I assumed it is likely to be simpler to cope with Zelenskyy,” Trump advised reporters Wednesday. “To this point it’s been tougher, however that’s OK. It’s all proper.”

In his dealings with Zelenskyy and Putin , Trump has centered on which chief has leverage. Putin has “the playing cards” and Zelenskyy doesn't, Trump has stated repeatedly. On the similar time, the brand new Republican administration has taken steps towards a extra cooperative line with Putin, for whom Trump has lengthy proven admiration.

Trump in his assembly with Norway’s Gahr Støre was to debate the battle in Ukraine, U.S. tariffs and different points.

Norway, a member of NATO and powerful supporter of Ukraine, shares a roughly 123-mile (198-kilometer) border with Russia.

Gahr Støre stated in a social media put up Thursday that he would underscore through the talks that “shut contact between Norway and the USA is essential.”

“We should contribute to an enduring and simply peace in Ukraine,” he stated.

In the meantime, French President Emmanuel Macron stated Putin ought to “cease mendacity” when he claims to need “peace” whereas persevering with to bomb Ukraine.

“There is just one reply we're ready for: Does President Putin comply with an unconditional ceasefire?” stated Macron throughout a go to to Madagascar. Macron added that “the People’ anger ought to give attention to only one particular person: President Putin.”

Rescue staff clear the rubble after a Russian strike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 24, 2025. (AP Picture/Alex Babenko)

Learn Extra The French International Ministry additionally supplied measured pushback on Trump’s criticism of Zelenskyy over the Ukrainian’s stance on Crimea.

Throughout talks last week in Paris , U.S. officers introduced a proposal that included permitting Russia to maintain management of occupied Ukrainian territory as a part of a deal, in line with a European official conversant in the matter. The proposal was mentioned once more Wednesday throughout talks with U.S., European, and Ukrainian officers.

“The precept of Ukraine’s territorial integrity isn't one thing that may be negotiated,” International Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine stated. “This was the place taken final week and reiterated yesterday in London in a gathering of an identical format.”

Requested whether or not France agreed with Trump’s feedback that Ukraine’s place was accountable for prolonging the battle, Lemoine stated Ukrainians confirmed they're open to negotiations whereas Russia continues its strikes.

“We moderately have the impression that it's the Russians who're slowing down the discussions,” he stated.

The White Home introduced Tuesday that Trump’s particular envoy, Steve Witkoff, would go to Moscow this week for a brand new spherical of talks with Putin concerning the battle. It might be their fourth assembly since Trump took workplace in January.

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth met on Thursday with NATO Secretary-Basic Mark Rutte, who additionally deliberate talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s nationwide safety adviser, Michael Waltz.

Leaders from the 32-member alliance are set to fulfill within the Netherlands in two months. Trump has pushed them to considerably step up protection spending.

In 2023, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its second 12 months, they agreed that every one allies ought to spend a minimum of 2% of gross home product on their army budgets. Estimates in NATO’s annual report released Thursday confirmed that 22 allies had reached that aim final 12 months, in contrast with a previous forecast of 23.

“In 2025, we have to considerably improve our efforts to make sure NATO stays a key supply of army benefit for all our nations. Our continued freedom and prosperity rely upon it,” Rutte wrote.

___

Petrequin reported from Paris. Related Press author Lorne Cook dinner in Brussels contributed to this report.

window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : '870613919693099', xfbml : true, version : 'v2.9' }); };

(function(d, s, id){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); [ad_2] Source link