Despite renewed calls for peace from former U.S. President Donald Trump, Russia strikes Ukraine with another deadly wave of drones and missiles, leaving at least eight civilians dead overnight. The city of Pavlohrad in eastern Ukraine was hit hard, with three casualties reported, including a child and a 76-year-old woman, and at least ten others injured, according to Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak. Additional fatalities were reported in Kherson, Donetsk, and Kharkiv regions, with officials confirming the deaths of five more people in those areas.
The assault follows a particularly brutal barrage on Kyiv just a day prior—the deadliest attack the capital has seen since mid-2023—which resulted in 12 deaths and 87 injuries. Emergency services concluded their rescue operations at a residential block reportedly struck by a North Korean-supplied ballistic missile. These attacks underscore the escalating toll of the nearly three-year-old war, which has devastated Ukrainian cities and claimed thousands of lives.
Trump’s “STOP!” Plea and Diplomatic Efforts Falter
On Thursday, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to publicly urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the offensive. In a post that read “Vladimir, STOP!”, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of a ceasefire or resolution. Just hours later, however, he suggested optimism, stating both Moscow and Kyiv “want peace.” His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to visit Moscow for talks with Russian officials, signaling a new push for negotiations from Trump’s camp.
Russia Strikes Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded cautiously in an interview with CBS News, saying Russia is open to a peace deal but noted that key issues still require further discussion. Meanwhile, U.S. allies in Europe are reportedly concerned about Washington’s proposed terms for a peace settlement, especially a controversial suggestion to recognize Crimea as Russian territory—an idea widely seen as a major shift in U.S. foreign policy and a potential threat to the post-WWII principle against altering borders through force.
Crimea Recognition Proposal Fuels Zelensky-Trump Tensions
The proposal to acknowledge Russia’s control over Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, has sparked friction between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Earlier this week, Trump criticized Zelensky for obstructing peace negotiations, after the Ukrainian leader reaffirmed that Ukraine’s constitution prohibits conceding any territory to foreign control. The disagreement marks yet another public clash between the two leaders, with Trump accusing Zelensky of undermining diplomatic progress.
Trump defended his handling of the situation during a press interaction, insisting that his approach had limited Russia Strikes aggression. “Stopping the war, stopping taking the whole country. Pretty big concession,” Trump said, when pressed on what Russia had actually given up. He insisted pressure on Moscow is ongoing and effective, despite skepticism over the direction and implications of current U.S. diplomacy.
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