Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least 12 people in the biggest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year and drawing a rare rebuke from US President Donald Trump, who told Vladimir Putin: “Vladimir, STOP!”
Rescue teams were operating at 13 sites in Kyiv with climbing specialists and sniffer dogs, the emergency services said. Forty fires had broken out.
“Mobile telephones are heard ringing beneath rubble. The search will continue until it becomes clear that they have got everyone,” it said.
The Russian defence ministry said it carried out what it described as a massive overnight strike against Ukraine’s military-industrial complex using air, land and sea-based long-range high-precision weapons and drones.
Trump told reporters at the White House that his administration was applying ‘a lot of pressure’ on Russia and reiterated his displeasure with the attack.
But he said significant progress had been made in peace negotiations and that the Kremlin had made a ‘pretty big concession’ by being open to ‘stopping the war, stopping taking the whole country.’
“This next few days is going to be very important. Meetings are taking place right now,” Trump said. “I think we’re going to make a deal... I think we’re getting very close.”
The president added later that Washington was also pressuring Kyiv.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the same news conference that further discussions were planned for the weekend, and the US wants to see both Ukraine and Russia step up to finalise a deal.
The Kyiv attack, which the US president said was “not necessary” and “very bad timing” as he pushes for peace, also wounded 90 people, smashed buildings and set off fires, Ukrainian officials said. Rescuers were still recovering bodies from the rubble more than 12 hours later.
The attack came at a critical moment in Russia’s war in Ukraine, which began with Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Both Kyiv and Moscow are trying to show Trump they are making progress towards his goal of a rapid peace deal.
“I am 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!” Trump said on Truth Social, addressing the Russian president.
The White House has threatened to abandon its efforts if no progress is made soon. Trump upbraided Zelenskiy on Wednesday over a comment in which the Ukrainian leader repeated that Kyiv would not recognise Russia’s occupation of Crimea.
Trump has used a markedly more gentle tone in his statements about Putin than with Zelenskiy, whom he at one point referred to as a ‘dictator’. Trump’s special envoy is expected to meet Putin today for more talks, a US official has said.
The London talks went ahead, albeit in a downgraded format, and Zelenskiy said yesterday he believed that a proposal that emerged from the talks was now with Trump. Asked by a reporter if he thought Putin would listen to his appeal to stop missile strikes, Trump said “I do.”
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