KYIV: Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles and drones, 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 on Thursday (Apr 24), who told Vladimir Putin: “Vladimir, STOP!”
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 the Kremlin had made a “pretty big concession” by being open to “stopping the war, stopping taking the whole country,” referring to Ukraine.
“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.”
Speaking to CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the effort was “moving in the right direction” but “some specific points … need to be fine-tuned,” according to a transcript. He did not provide details.
The US president said Washington was also pressuring Kyiv.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also at the White House, said further discussions were planned for the weekend, and the US wants to see both Ukraine and Russia step up to finalise a deal.
After talks with Trump in Washington, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Thursday that Kyiv was working hard for a deal. “There is something on the table now I think, where Ukrainians are really playing ball, and I think the ball is clearly in the Russian court now,” he told reporters.
