President Donald Trump has announced his willingness to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the coming weeks, ‘if necessary,’ as tensions escalate following a significant Russian aerial attack on Ukrainian cities. The strike, which killed at least 12 people and injured dozens, is the largest-scale aerial assault of the war, involving 298 drones and 69 missiles. Trump’s remarks come after he condemned the attack, calling it ‘very disappointing.’ He emphasized his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is ‘doing a phenomenal job’ negotiating with Russia, while also criticizing Putin’s actions as ‘playing with fire.’ Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has expressed a willingness to engage in talks with both leaders in Geneva, though Russia has yet to agree to the U.S. peace proposal, and discussions for a potential meeting in Istanbul are still pending. Trump also reiterated his frustration with the conflict, blaming it on ‘Gross Incompetence and Hatred’ and stating that he is only helping to ‘put out the big and ugly fires.’
In the aftermath of the attack, Ukrainian officials reported that at least 12 people were killed and dozens more were injured. The strike, which has been dubbed the largest aerial attack of the war, targeted the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Trump reiterated his criticism of Russia’s actions, calling the attack ‘very disappointing’ and stating that he is ‘very disappointed at what happened a couple of nights now where people were killed — in what you would call a negotiation.’ The president also warned that Putin is ‘playing with fire,’ suggesting that his actions could escalate the conflict further. Zelenskyy, on the other hand, has called for international action against Russia, stating that the ‘silence of America and others in the world only encourages Putin.’ He has urged for new sanctions against Russia, emphasizing that the attack is ‘reason enough’ for such measures.
Despite the growing pressure for a resolution, challenges remain for the U.S. and its allies. The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that they are still working on their memorandum of terms for the peace proposal, which has not yet been accepted by Moscow. Meanwhile, Trump’s comments have sparked a mix of reactions, with some criticizing his past statements on the conflict, while others have defended his efforts to bring about a resolution through diplomacy. The situation remains complex, with no clear path forward, and the potential meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy could either mark a turning point or serve as another step in a protracted and contentious process.