‘Vladimir, STOP!’: Trump slams Russian strike that killed 12 in Kyiv

KYIV/WASHINGTON. U.S. President Donald Trump issued a rare and pointed rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin following a devastating missile and drone attack on Kyiv that killed at least 12 people and injured 90 others, in what has been described as the most intense assault on the Ukrainian capital this year.

At the White House on Thursday (April 24), Trump confirmed that his administration was “applying a lot of pressure” on Russia and Ukraine to finalize a peace agreement. Reacting to the assault, Trump said: “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” — a message he also posted on Truth Social.

Despite the aggression, Trump expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations, noting that the Kremlin had made a “pretty big concession” and is now 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.”

Civilians Among Casualties in Kyiv

Emergency crews in Kyiv reported that they were still retrieving bodies from the rubble over 12 hours after the attack. The blasts destroyed buildings, triggered over 40 fires, and left families devastated.

“There was the air raid siren, we did not even have time to dress to go out of the apartment. One blast came after the other, all windows were blown out, doors, walls, my husband and son were thrown to the other side,” said Viktoria Bakal, a Kyiv resident.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv city military administration, confirmed the death toll and said rescue teams had been deployed to 13 locations across the capital. Mobile phones could still be heard ringing under the debris as responders with climbing specialists and sniffer dogs worked through the wreckage.

Russia Denies Targeting Civilians

The Russian Ministry of Defence said the assault was aimed at Ukraine’s military-industrial complex using high-precision long-range weapons from land, sea, and air. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking with CBS News’ Face the Nation, said the peace process was “moving in the right direction” but still required refinements on “some specific points.”

Lavrov maintained Moscow’s position that civilians were not targeted in the operation.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy contradicted that claim, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that Russia used a North Korean KN-23 ballistic missile in the Kyiv strike. He also reported on Telegram that Russian forces used the aerial assault to mask intensified land-based offensives, particularly in the eastern Pokrovsk sector, though these were successfully repelled.

Talks Intensify as U.S. and NATO Push for Resolution

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed Trump’s urgency, saying further talks were scheduled over the weekend and that both Russia and Ukraine needed to act decisively.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, following meetings in Washington, added: “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.”

Trump also commented on his differing tones toward leaders, noting it would be difficult for Ukraine to reclaim Crimea. He criticized Zelenskiy’s hardline stance, particularly after the Ukrainian leader reiterated that Kyiv would never recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea. Trump went as far as referring to Zelenskiy as a “dictator” in earlier remarks.

Meanwhile, a U.S. official said Trump’s special envoy is expected to meet with Putin on Friday for further negotiations.

Wider Damage Across Ukraine

Apart from Kyiv, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported that seven other regions were affected by the Russian offensive. Infrastructure damage was reported in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, as well as in the Zhytomyr and Pavlohrad regions.

The latest developments come at a critical juncture in the war, with both Kyiv and Moscow under pressure to meet Trump’s call for a “fast” resolution to the conflict.

“I have my own deadline, and we want it to be fast,” Trump said when asked if there was a timeline for the talks.