Trump Tells Putin 'STOP!' in Rare Rebuke After Deadly Kyiv Bombings
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At least 12 people were killed and more than 100 were injured during Wednesday night's attacks in Kyiv, the deadliest on the Ukrainian capital since last summer.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the deadly overnight attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, came at a bad time and enjoined his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to finally agree on a peace deal.
"I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
"Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let's get the Peace Deal DONE!" his statement continued.
Trump's statement represents a rare reprimand by the US president of Putin over Moscow's continued acts of aggression against Ukraine.
It was the deadliest assault on the city since July last year, when 33 people died after an aerial barrage targeted a hospital and residential areas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia tried to use massive airstrikes overnight as cover for increased ground incursions.
Citing a report from Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's top military commander, Zelenskyy said the land-based attacks had been successfully repelled.
"The Russians tried to develop assault operations under the cover of their massive strike," Zelenskyy said on Telegram.
"When the maximum of our forces was focused on defense against missiles and drones, the Russians went on to significantly intensify their ground attacks. The Russians received a worthy response," the statement added.
Missiles and drone attacks were also reported across Ukraine, including in the country's second-largest city of Kharkiv.
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