In a series of explosive social media posts and public statements, President Donald Trump has lashed out at both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid escalating violence and faltering peace talks.
On the morning of April 24, Kyiv was rocked by the deadliest Russian assault on the capital in nine months, per CBS News.
The Ukrainian air force reported that 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four plane-launched air-to-surface missiles, and 145 Shahed and decoy drones were unleashed on Kyiv and surrounding regions, per The Washington Post.
The bombardment killed at least nine people and injured over 70, sending emergency workers scrambling through the rubble of collapsed buildings under the glow of emergency lights.
President Zelenskyy, who was in South Africa at the time, immediately cut short his trip and returned to Ukraine, denouncing the assault as "one of [Russia’s] most outrageous".
But even as the Ukrainian leader called out the Kremlin’s brutality, Trump voiced his own condemnation — directed not only at Putin, but at Zelenskyy too.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump called the bombing "Not necessary, and very bad timing," adding: “Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!”
This plea came just hours after he accused Zelenskyy of derailing peace negotiations with inflammatory rhetoric over Crimea.
Trump ripped into the Ukrainian president for refusing any deal that allows Russia to retain control of the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
“There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” Zelensky said in response to the peace deal, per Al Jazeera.
“Very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama and is not even a point of discussion,” Trump responded. “Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?”
Trump characterized Zelenskyy’s remarks as fueling the “killing field,” adding, “He can have Peace or he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country. I have nothing to do with Russia, but have much to do with wanting to save, on average, five thousand Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, who are dying for no reason whatsoever.”
The former president, who campaigned in 2024 on ending the Russia-Ukraine war "on Day 1" of his presidency, emphasized how close the nations were to a resolution.
“We are very close to a Deal, but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE," Trump continued. "I look forward to being able to help Ukraine, and Russia, get out of this Complete and Total MESS, that would have never started if I were President!”
Meanwhile, the diplomatic situation remains fragile. A high-level summit between officials from Ukraine, the US, Britain, and Europe scheduled for April 24 in London was unexpectedly downgraded after Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulled out due to "logistical issues".
Just days earlier, Rubio had issued an ultimatum, warning that the US would not allow talks to drag on indefinitely.
“We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end,” Rubio said, adding that the situation must be resolved “in a matter of days.”
Vice President J.D. Vance echoed those sentiments from India: “We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process.”
Adding another twist, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted during a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission that Russia’s ground forces are running low on weapons and eagerly awaiting new shipments, especially drones.
As Kyiv mourns its dead — Friday has been declared an official day of mourning by Mayor Vitalii Klitschko — the world watches to see whether peace talks can survive the rising tensions and incendiary statements on both sides.