Trump to Putin: "Vladimir, STOP!"
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Trump and Putin in 2019. Photo: Kremlin Press Office via Getty
President Trump issued rare criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia unleashed a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight just hours after Trump had claimed Putin was ready to make peace.
Why it matters: Trump had been focusing his criticism exclusively on the Ukrainians in recent days as he pushed a "final offer" for peace. Trump insists a deal is close, but neither party to the conflict seems to agree.
The latest: Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov told CBS News Thursday Russia is "ready to reach a deal" on Ukraine.
Driving the news: Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight killing at least eight people and wounding more than 70.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cut short a trip to South Africa to return to Kyiv.
What he's saying: "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!", Trump wrote.
- Later on Thursday, Trump told reporters he thinks Putin will listen to him on stopping the attacks on Ukraine.
- Trump stressed he has his own deadline for getting a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. "After that deadline we will have a different attitude...but I think we have a very good chance to get it done", he said.
The latest: At the end of his meeting with the prime minister of Norway, Trump refused to say what he'd do if Russia continues its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine.
- "I would rather answer this question in a week... I won't be happy — things will happen," he said.
- Trump claimed he was putting "a lot of pressure" on Russia and stressed that this is the why Putin agreed to enter negotiations.
- But he also claimed Russia had already made a major concession by agreeing not to try to conquer all of Ukraine as part of a future deal.
Trump had fumed at Zelensky a day earlier for rejecting his peace plan, which involves the U.S. recognizing Crimea as Russian territory and ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine
- "Russia is ready to get a deal. We have to get a deal with Zelensky. I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelensky — it is harder," Trump said yesterday evening in the Oval Office.
- Trump also said he expected to meet Putin shortly after his trip to Saudi Arabia, planned for mid-May.
State of play: Trump's criticism comes ahead of a trip by his special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow for his fourth meeting with Putin on Friday.
- Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg met Wednesday in London with Zelensky's top advisers to discuss Trump's proposal.
"I have no favorites. I don't want to have favorites," Trump said, when asked Wednesday why he criticized Zelensky but not Putin.
This story was updated with additional comments from President Trump and remarks by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
