WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 President Donald Trump on Thursday offered rare criticism of Vladimir Putin, urging the Russian leader to 鈥淪TOP!鈥 after a deadly barrage of attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital.
鈥淚 am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying,鈥 Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. 鈥淟ets get the Peace Deal DONE!鈥
Russia struck Kyiv with an hourslong barrage of missiles and drones. At least nine people were killed and more than 70 injured in the deadliest assault on the city since last July.
Trump鈥檚 frustration is growing as a U.S.-led effort to get a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia has not made progress.
Trump at Ukrainian President on Wednesday and accused him of prolonging the 鈥渒illing field鈥 by refusing to surrender the Russia-occupied as part of a possible deal.
Zelenskyy has repeated many times during the war that began when Russia invaded in February 2022 that recognizing occupied territory as Russia's is a red line for Ukraine. Zelenskyy noted Thursday that Ukraine had agreed to a U.S. ceasefire proposal 44 days ago as a first step to a negotiated peace, but that Moscow's attacks had continued.
Trump鈥檚 criticism of Putin is notable because Trump has repeatedly said Russia, the aggressor in the conflict, is more willing than Ukraine to get a deal done.
鈥淚 thought it might be easier to deal with Zelenskyy,鈥 Trump told reporters Wednesday. 鈥淪o far it鈥檚 been harder, but that鈥檚 OK. It鈥檚 all right.鈥
In his dealings with and , Trump has focused on which leader has leverage. Putin has 鈥渢he cards鈥 and Zelenskyy does not, Trump has said repeatedly. At the same time, the new Republican administration has taken steps toward a more cooperative line with Putin, for whom Trump has long shown admiration.
Trump is set to meet later Thursday with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr St酶re to discuss the war in Ukraine, U.S. tariffs and other issues.
Norway, a member of NATO and strong supporter of Ukraine, shares a roughly 123-mile (198-kilometer) border with Russia.
Gahr St酶re said in a social media post Thursday that he would underscore during the talks that 鈥渃lose contact between Norway and the USA is crucial.鈥
鈥淲e must contribute to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine,鈥 he said.
The White House announced Tuesday that Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, would visit Moscow this week for a new round of talks with Putin about the war. It would be their fourth meeting since Trump took office in January.
