Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump claims Putin ‘kept his word’ despite massive attack on eve of peace talks
US president Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin “kept his word” by halting attacks on major Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure for one week – even though he then unleashed one of the biggest aerial attacks of the war.
Trump refused to criticise Putin despite Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv early on Tuesday, which included a record number of ballistic missiles.“(The pause) was for Sunday to Sunday,” the US president said, speaking to reporters at the White House yesterday. “It opened up and (Putin) hit them hard… He kept his word on that. One week is a lot — we will take anything,” he said.
On being asked if he was disappointed with Putin, Trump said he wants Putin “to end the war”.
Russia’s major attack came just a day before Ukrainian, Russian and US delegations sit down for a second round of three-way peace talks in Abu Dhabi today.
Volodymyr Zelensky says the attack has changed the approach his team will take to the talks, and accused Moscow of using Trump’s ceasefire request to stockpile munitions rather than prepare for peace.
