Key Points
- A Russian strike on Ukraine’s capital has killed at least 12 people.
- US President Donald Trump has criticised the strikes, calling them “not necessary” and “very bad timing”.
- The White House has threatened to abandon its efforts towards a Russia-Ukraine peace deal if progress isn’t made soon.
Russia has 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 United States President Donald Trump, who told Russian President Vladimir Putin to “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 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 the US was also pressuring Ukraine.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said at the same news conference that further discussions were planned for the weekend, and the US wants both Ukraine and Russia to step up to finalise a deal.
‘5,000 soldiers a week are dying’
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 his Truth Social platform, addressing the Russian president.
The White House has if no progress is made soon.
Zelenskyy, who cut short an official visit to South Africa after the Russian strike, said he did not see signs the US was putting strong pressure on Russia.
Asked by a reporter if he thought Putin would listen to his appeal to stop missile strikes, Trump said: “I do.”
He also said he had his “own deadline” for reaching a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine, without saying what it was.
Phones ‘ringing beneath rubble’
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.
Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the Kyiv city military administration, said there were 12 dead.
Fires had broken out in garages and administrative buildings, and falling metal fragments had struck vehicles.
Zelenskyy said on X that Russia had used a North Korean ballistic missile in the attack, citing preliminary information.
Russia launched 145 drones and 70 missiles, including 11 ballistic missiles, in the overnight attack, Ukraine’s air force said on Telegram. Air force units shot down 112 targets.
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