'Vladimir, STOP!': Trump calls for peace after Kyiv claims missile, drone attack by Moscow

Trump on Russia strikes on Kyiv: 'Vladimir, STOP!"

US President Donald Trump has condemned Russia’s recent assault on Kyiv, where at least 70 missiles and 145 drones were launched between Wednesday night and Thursday morning saying "Vladimir, STOP!"

"I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Unnecessary and very bad timing," former President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He added, "5,000 soldiers are dying each week and urged for peace "Let's get the Peace Deal DONE!"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cancelled part of his trip to South Africa on Thursday after Russia fired a barrage of missiles and drones at Kyiv, killing at least nine people and trapping others under rubble.

When asked about the Russian strikes on Kyiv at a briefing earlier on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was continuing to hit "military and military-adjacent targets."

Trump's rare rebuke of Putin followed his criticism of Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday for saying Ukraine would not recognize Russia's occupation of Crimea - a longtime Kyiv stance.

"This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia," Trump said in a social media post.

Trump, who argued with Zelenskiy in a disastrous Oval Office meeting in March, said Crimea was lost years ago "and is not even a point of discussion."

(With agency inputs)