KYIV — Russia launched a deadly strike on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, early Thursday, killing at least nine people, including two children, and injuring more than 70.
The attack is one of the deadliest on the city since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago.
On Thursday morning in a social media post, President Trump turned his focus to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was "not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv."
"Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!"
The Trump administration has been demanding that Ukraine accept a peace plan sharply favoring the Kremlin.
Later in the day, Trump said he "wasn't happy" with last night's strikes, but he declined to say whether Russia could face additional sanctions. "I want to see if we can have a deal," Trump said, noting meetings in the next few days would be critical. "We're putting a lot of pressure on Russia," he said and later suggested that it would be clear "in two weeks" whether a deal was possible.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States had presented both sides with "options" for ending the war and said there was "a good meeting" on the conflict yesterday. "We've shown them the finish line. 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," Rubio said.
The Ukrainian military says Russia launched at least 215 drones and missiles at Ukraine, most aimed at the capital.
"Many houses were destroyed," said Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko in a video post on the Telegram messaging app. "We are now going through the rubble with our hands, we're not using machinery. There may be people still under the rubble."
"Once again," he added, with sarcasm, "we are seeing the face of Russian peace."
NPR's Ukraine bureau heard drones flying over the neighborhood in the middle of the night, followed by multiple explosions, as Ukraine's air defense tried to shoot down the drones.
Zelenskyy says, "I don't see much pressure on Russia"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he would cut short his diplomatic trip to South Africa and return to Kyiv because of the strikes.
Speaking at a news conference in Pretoria alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine, unlike Russia, had agreed to Trump's request for an unconditional ceasefire.
"I don't see much pressure on Russia or any new strong sanctions packages against Russian aggression, for now," he told reporters.
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Zelenskyy said he would still like the U.S. to act as a guarantor of any peace deal, however. Asked by reporters if he would consider making any concessions, Zelenskyy said being at the negotiating table with "terrorists" was already a concession.
The Ukrainian leader's visit to South Africa comes as he's looking to shore up international support. South Africa's leadership has cast itself as neutral on the war in Ukraine and has sought to broker a peace deal, but was accused by the previous U.S. administration of supporting Moscow.
Ramaphosa said he had spoken to both Trump and Putin ahead of Zelenskyy's visit and agreed on the need for an end to the conflict.
The Trump administration hasn't offered details of a peace plan. But in public statements, President Trump and top officials have pushed Zelenskyy to cede territory in exchange for vague security guarantees against future Russian aggression.
In a Truth Social post, Trump criticized Zelenskyy for refusing to recognize the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, as part of Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing Thursday that Trump's remarks were in line with Russia's position.
The U.S. is threatening to walk away from peace talks if they take too long. While a candidate, Trump insisted that he would end the war in 24 hours.
Zelenskyy responded with his own social media post, noting that "emotions have run high," but held out hope that "joint work will lead to lasting peace." He then posted a link to a declaration from the first Trump administration supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Zelenskyy has said a full ceasefire must be established before details of a peace deal are discussed.
Ukraine agreed unconditionally to a U.S.-brokered 30-day ceasefire proposal last month. Russia, meanwhile, stepped up attacks on Ukraine during that time. This month, Russian missile strikes killed 20, including nine children, in Zelenskyy's hometown, the central city of Kryvyi Rih, and another 35 in the northeastern city of Sumy.
Kate Bartlett reported from Pretoria, South Africa.
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