'Vladimir, STOP!' Trump slams Putin for overnight assault on Kyiv

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (April 24) blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin for overnight attacks on Ukraine that killed at least eight people and injured more than 80.

Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump said he was “not happy” with the unnecessary strikes.

Trump wrote: “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!"

Following the deadly overnight assault, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he would cut short a diplomatic visit to South Africa.

During a briefing earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia was continuing to hit “military and military-adjacent targets.”

Trump’s rare rebuke of Putin followed his criticism of Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday for saying Ukraine would not recognise Russia’s occupation of Crimea - a longtime Kyiv stance.

“This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia,” Trump said in a social media post.

Trump, who argued with Zelenskyy in a disastrous Oval Office meeting in March, said Crimea was lost years ago “and is not even a point of discussion.”

Macron’s statement

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday expressed his support for Kyiv and said Ukraine can’t be forced to agree to peace terms when Russian attacks were going on.

Macron said Paris will “continue to defend the right of the Ukrainian people to live within their internationally recognised borders”.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that the attacks sent a clear message that Russia was not interested in peace.

He said, “Kyiv was brutally attacked by Russia again last night. A clear message from the Kremlin: Russia has no real interest in peace. Peace cannot be negotiated under fire. Denmark stands with Ukraine against this brutality.”

(With inputs from agencies)