Trump Tells Putin to Knock It Off After Deadly Attack on Kyiv

Photo: Credited to Google

In a pretty unexpected move, Donald Trump actually called out Vladimir Putin on Thursday, telling him to stop the violent attacks on Ukraine. This came after a brutal missile and drone strike on Kyiv—the deadliest the city’s seen in months.

Trump, who hasn’t exactly been Ukraine’s biggest cheerleader in the past, took to social media and said, “I am not happy with the Russian strikes. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!” A rare direct rebuke of Putin from Trump.

This came shortly after Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, urged Western allies to step up the pressure on Russia to bring the war to a halt. Zelensky even had to cut short a trip to South Africa because of the attack.

The overnight strikes on Kyiv were devastating. According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia launched around 70 missiles and over 140 drones. Twelve people lost their lives in Kyiv alone, and around 90 were injured. Some were pulled from rubble as buildings crumbled around them. It was heartbreaking.

Zelensky claimed that among the weapons used was a North Korean ballistic missile—a worrying development. He also expressed frustration with what he sees as a lack of new sanctions or serious pressure from allies to get Russia to agree to a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Trump’s own approach to the war has raised eyebrows. Just recently, he criticized Zelensky for refusing to hand over Crimea to Russia—a region Russia annexed back in 2014. Trump called Crimea a “lost cause” and implied Zelensky was holding up peace talks by not accepting that.

When asked what Russia might be offering in talks, Trump responded, “Stopping taking the whole country — pretty big concession.” That line didn’t exactly sit well with many who support Ukraine’s fight to defend its sovereignty.

Interestingly, Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, is reportedly heading to Russia this week for another round of ceasefire talks with Putin. So there's clearly something brewing behind the scenes.

Back in Kyiv, the destruction was deeply felt. One local, Olena Davydiuk, a 33-year-old lawyer, described the chaos: shattered windows, doors blown off, and rescue teams digging people out from debris.

The strikes were part of a bigger pattern. Moscow’s been ramping up its air assault over the last month, even as Trump pushes for some kind of rapid ceasefire deal. Whether Putin’s listening is another story.

As NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte put it bluntly after meeting with Trump, “The balls are clearly in the Russian court now.” And honestly, he’s right.

So far, though, it feels like the world is waiting for someone—anyone—to push this war closer to an end. Until then, Ukraine keeps fighting, and innocent lives keep being caught in the middle.