President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was shocked by Russian chief Vladimir Putin’s escalation of assaults on Ukraine amid ongoing cease-fire talks, expressing his discontent with Putin’s actions.
“I’m not happy with what Putin is doing. He’s killing a lot of people. And I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin,” Trump informed reporters on the airport in New Jersey earlier than boarding Air Pressure One to return to Washington from New Jersey.
“We’re in the middle of talking, and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don’t like it at all.”
Russia launched 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities in a single day into Could 25, in what’s believed to be its largest aerial assault because the conflict started in February 2022 by way of the variety of weapons used, leaving a dozen individuals useless.
The airstrike occurred simply hours earlier than the third and ultimate prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, with each nations having exchanged lots of of prisoners of conflict in an effort to scale down the battle.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of intentionally prolonging the conflict and referred to as on the USA and European nations to impose additional sanctions as a way to stress Russia.
“Each such terrorist Russian strike is a sufficient reason for new sanctions against Russia,” Zelenskyy said on social media platformX. “Silence of America, silence of others around the world only encourage Putin. Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped.”
Trump additionally voiced his discontent with Putin’s actions on the Fact Social platform, warning that any actions to overcome the whole lot of Ukraine would adversely have an effect on Russia.
“I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia,” he stated of the Russian chief.
Trump additionally stated that Zelenskyy was not doing any favors for his nation “by talking the way he does” and that he ought to cease.
U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg additionally condemned the Russian assaults as “shameful” and referred to as for a direct cease-fire in Ukraine.
“The indiscriminate killing of women and children at night in their homes is a clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols designed to protect innocents,” Kellogg said in a social media publish. “Stop the killing. Ceasefire now.”
The prisoners swap completes the third a part of a deal signed final month, beneath which either side agreed to launch 1,000 prisoners of conflict captured throughout the three-year conflict.
Zelenskyy said on social media platform X that 303 prisoners have been returned to Ukraine on Could 25, together with captured members of the armed forces, Nationwide Guard, State Border Guard Service, and State Particular Transport Service.
Russia’s Protection Ministry additionally confirmed the swap, saying that every nation welcomed house 303 troopers on Could 25.
The primary two phases of the deal concerned the change of 307 prisoners from either side on Could 24 and 390 prisoners from either side on Could 23.
The Trump administration has been pushing for a cease-fire deal geared toward ending the conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin stated on April 30 that Putin stays open to a cease-fire and eventual peaceable settlement to the battle however that there are nonetheless points that have to be resolved.
Zelenskyy has stated on X that Ukraine is able to enter into a brief cease-fire with Russia however added that Russia should first show its readiness to finish the conflict, “starting with a full, unconditional ceasefire.” This might contain ending missile and drone strikes and halting offensive assaults alongside the entrance traces.
Jacob Burg and Reuters contributed to this report.
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