WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump issued a rare and forceful rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, condemning Moscow’s latest deadly missile and drone barrage on Kyiv and urging the Kremlin to halt its offensive as peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine continue to falter.
“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”
The overnight Russian assault on Ukraine’s capital killed at least 12 civilians and injured 90 others, according to Ukrainian officials, making it the deadliest strike on Kyiv since July 2023. The attack added pressure on already strained diplomatic efforts led by the United States and Europe to secure a long-term peace settlement between Moscow and Kyiv.
Trump’s criticism of Putin marked a significant departure from his typical public tone toward the Russian leader. In recent months, Trump has repeatedly framed Ukraine as the primary obstacle to peace, accusing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of refusing to negotiate over Russian-occupied territories. However, Thursday’s remarks suggested growing frustration with both sides as efforts to broker a ceasefire remain stalled.
During a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the White House later that day, Trump elaborated on his position, stating that Crimea — which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014 — had been taken “without a fight,” and placed blame on President Barack Obama’s administration for allowing it to happen.
When asked what Putin had done to advance a peace deal, Trump pointed to what he called a major gesture: “Stopping taking the whole country, pretty big concession.” That assertion, however, was met with immediate pushback from Kyiv and European allies, who argue that Russia halting further territorial conquest does not constitute a legitimate concession under international law.
Zelenskyy reiterated on Thursday that Ukraine remains open to a negotiated resolution but emphasized that ceding sovereign land — including Crimea and other occupied territories in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia — is non-negotiable. He said Ukraine had already accepted a U.S.-proposed ceasefire agreement 44 days earlier, but that Russia had continued its strikes without pause.
Trump’s intensified criticism came after days of heightened diplomatic activity. Last week, U.S. and European negotiators met in Paris to discuss a potential framework for peace. A European official familiar with the talks confirmed that one of the proposals floated included allowing Russia to retain certain territories under occupation — an idea strongly opposed by Kyiv and viewed as a potential precedent for rewarding territorial aggression.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking during a visit to Madagascar, bluntly rejected any suggestion that the burden for peace lay with Ukraine. “There is only one answer we are waiting for: Does President Putin agree to an unconditional ceasefire?” Macron said. He also criticized Putin directly, saying, “He should stop lying when he says he wants peace while continuing to bomb Ukraine.”
France’s Foreign Ministry also defended Zelenskyy, responding to Trump’s claim that Ukraine was prolonging the war. “The principle of Ukraine’s territorial integrity is not something that can be negotiated,” said ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine. “This was the position taken last week and reiterated yesterday in London.”
Despite his criticism of Putin, Trump continued to emphasize the power dynamic in Moscow’s favor. He has often said that Putin “has the cards,” while arguing that Zelenskyy lacks leverage. His administration has made no secret of its goal to forge a deal quickly, even as concerns mount among NATO allies over potential concessions to Russia.
The White House confirmed this week that Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will travel to Moscow for a fourth round of direct talks with Putin’s inner circle — a notable diplomatic effort that underlines the administration’s commitment to fast-tracking a resolution.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also met Thursday with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Rutte, who plans additional meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, said preparations are underway for the upcoming NATO summit in the Netherlands this summer.
Trump has used the NATO platform to demand increased defense spending from member states. According to NATO’s latest annual report released Thursday, 22 out of 32 members have now met the 2% GDP threshold for military spending — a benchmark set by the alliance in 2023 amid Russia’s continued aggression.
“In 2025, we need to significantly increase our efforts to ensure NATO remains a key source of military advantage for all our nations,” Rutte said in a written statement. “Our continued freedom and prosperity depend on it.”
Prime Minister Støre echoed that sentiment during his White House visit, stating that “close contact between Norway and the USA is crucial.” As a NATO member sharing a border with Russia, Norway has remained a steadfast supporter of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“We must contribute to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine,” Støre said on X, formerly Twitter.
Trump’s direct message to Putin — a rare public admonition from a leader known for his measured language toward the Kremlin — underscored the urgent need to de-escalate the war. As Ukrainian cities endure relentless attacks and diplomatic channels show signs of strain, the White House appears poised to step up its push for a peace framework that can gain buy-in from both Kyiv and Moscow — a formidable task, even for an administration committed to deal-making.
