Trump writes ‘Vladimir, STOP!’ after Russia launches deadliest strikes on Kyiv since last summer

US President Donald Trump said he is “not happy” after Russia launched its deadliest wave of attacks on Kyiv in nine months, telling President Vladimir Putin to “STOP!” as he attempts to push Ukraine to agree on a contentious ceasefire proposal.
Moscow sent 70 missiles and 145 drones toward Ukraine, mainly targeting Kyiv, in an attack that leader Volodymyr Zelensky said was aimed at pressuring the United States.
“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and the timing is terrible. Vladimir, STOP! Every week, 5,000 soldiers are dying. Let's finish the peace agreement! On Thursday, Trump wrote on Truth Social. According to Ukraine's emergency services, the strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people and the injuries of 90 others. Additional casualties may be buried under the rubble. Moscow's assault, according to the emergency services, hit 13 places in Kyiv, including residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. It was the most expensive attack on the city since an aerial bombardment in July 2024 that killed 33 people and targeted a hospital and residential areas. Zelensky said during a trip to South Africa that the bombardment was “first and foremost” aimed at “pressuring the US.” He sought to push back against Trump’s efforts to corral Kyiv into making concessions, telling reporters: “The fact that Ukraine is ready to sit down at a negotiating table after (a) full ceasefire with terrorists… is a big compromise.”
On the night of April 24, Russian forces unleashed an hours-long barrage of missiles and drones against Kyiv, killing at least 12 civilians and injuring over 90—its deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since July 2024. According to reports from Ukrainian emergency services, the strikes struck residential buildings, critical infrastructure, and public spaces in 13 locations throughout the city, trapping several individuals beneath the rubble as rescue workers attempted to reach them. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, one of the ballistic missiles was identified as a North Korean–manufactured KN-23, underscoring growing cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang in their military supplies .
In a public rebuke that was unusually blunt, former U.S. President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform shortly after the strikes to issue a direct plea to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and the timing is terrible. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!” His posts on social media were characterized by his use of all capital letters. One of the rare occasions in which Trump has directly criticized Putin by his first name rather than using the more formal "Mr. President” and illustrating his preference for punchy, informal messaging even in matters of global diplomacy .
According to analysts, Trump's use of Truth Social as a kind of diplomatic channel is indicative of a larger shift in the manner in which state leaders communicate. Historically, appeals between heads of state have been conveyed through formal letters, phone calls or mediated statements; Trump’s approach—immediate, public and conversational—breaks with protocol and raises questions about its efficacy in influencing Kremlin decision-making . While some observers view the move as an attempt to inject urgency into U.S.-backed peace negotiations, others caution that social-media entreaties may carry little weight with a leader long accustomed to Western pressure campaigns

The appeal also underscores mounting frustration within Washington over the stalled peace process. Trump’s message came just days before his special envoy, real-estate investor Steve Witkoff, was scheduled for further talks with Putin in Moscow—part of a U.S.-brokered initiative aiming to secure a ceasefire and address contentious issues such as the status of Crimea and the Donbas regions . According to Russian officials, Witkoff’s earlier meetings yielded what Moscow described as “constructive and very useful” discussions, though Kyiv and its European partners remain skeptical of any proposals that legitimize Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea .
Within Ukraine, reactions to Trump’s post were muted. President Zelenskyy’s office reiterated its demand for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire before any territorial or political concessions are considered, arguing that civilian lives and sovereignty must take precedence over rushed peace deals . Many Ukrainian officials view the timing of Moscow’s intensified bombardment as an effort to pressure both Western capitals and Kyiv into accepting terms that would enshrine Russia’s gains, a tactic condemned by NATO and EU leaders alike .
European responses to Trump’s appeal were similarly mixed. French President Emmanuel Macron publicly reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and insisted that any peace must be achieved “on Kyiv’s terms,” while British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned that lifting sanctions too soon would embolden further Russian aggression . In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte convened an emergency session of ambassadors to discuss bolstering air defenses across member states and increasing support to Ukrainian forces confronting Russia’s escalated strikes .
Back in Washington, several Republican senators praised Trump’s hard line but urged additional measures. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) described Putin as “playing America as a patsy” and called for the “toughest sanctions” yet on Russia’s financial and energy sectors to coerce a genuine cessation of hostilities . Grassley’s proposal, backed by a bipartisan group of over 50 senators, would impose heavy tariffs on any nation doing business with Russia unless Moscow enters peace talks in good faith—an escalatory step that some lawmakers argue is necessary given the Kremlin’s continued use of drones and ballistic missiles against civilians .
It is still unclear whether Trump's personal appeal or Western sanctions can prevent additional Russian attacks, despite these growing pressures. Over the past three years, repeated international calls for de-escalation have failed to stem the flow of weapons and ordnance into Ukraine, and critics question whether unilateral social-media messaging can alter the calculus of a leader already sanctioned by the U.S. for domestic human-rights abuses. As Kyiv braces for potential reprisals, the world watches to see if this latest plea—“Vladimir, STOP!”—will resonate in the Kremlin or fade into the din of ongoing conflict.