Trump Criticizes Putin for Deadly Kyiv Strikes, Urges Peace

Former President Donald Trump publicly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching deadly missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, urging him to stop the strikes and pursue a peace deal. Trump described the attacks as 'not necessary' and 'very bad timing,' emphasizing that thousands of soldiers are dying each week and calling for negotiations to end the conflict. His direct plea to Putin is notable given Trump's past reluctance to criticize the Russian leader. Trump also suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's position on Crimea has hindered peace talks, indicating he found negotiations with Russia easier than with Ukraine. The latest Russian assault on Kyiv resulted in multiple civilian casualties and prompted Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to cut short a diplomatic trip. The attacks were among the largest since July of the previous year, involving a significant number of missiles and drones.