Trump steps up criticism of Putin over continuing attacks on Ukraine

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Donald Trump expressed his frustration with Russia because of its ongoing attacks on Ukraine, but stressed that a deal to end the war remained within reach.

On Sunday evening, the US president reiterated his criticism of Vladimir Putin for the ongoing air strikes in Moscow on Ukraine, where Washington is growing patience amid stalled efforts to mediate a peace agreement.

“I was very disappointed because the missiles were [launched] By Russia, Trump told reporters back to the White House. “I want [Putin] To stop shooting and sitting and signing a deal. “

The comments come at a time when Washington is looking to increase the pressure on both sides to agree to the ceasefire, and a day after Trump’s interview with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zellinsky on the sidelines of the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome.

Trump said that the meeting – the first since the explosion of the Oval Office in February – was a “beautiful meeting” and praised Zelenskyy on “doing a good job”, adding: “I see it is quieter. I think he understands the picture, and I think he wants to make a deal.”

Russia last week launched its bloodiest strike this year at Kiev, killing 12 civilians and wounding 90 others. After the attack, Trump took the social truth platform to present a rare reprimand to his Russian counterpart. “Vladimir, stop!” He wrote, describing the attack “unnecessary”.

In an interview broadcast on American television on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov insisted that Russia would not back down.

“We will continue to target the sites used by the Ukraine army, and some mercenaries from foreign countries and coaches officially sent by the Europeans to help target Russian civilian sites,” Lavrov told CBS’s CBS ‘. Facing the nation View in a pre -registered interview.

Zelinski said on Sunday that the ongoing Russian strikes – including nearly 70 by midday alone – made it clear that “concrete pressure on Russia is necessary to create more opportunities for real diplomacy.”

He wrote on X: “The situation on the front lines and the real activity of the Russian army proves that the current global pressure on Russia is not sufficient to end this war.”

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkeov met last week of what the Kremlin described as a “construction” meeting.

However, senior administration officials indicated that Washington was increasingly growing for patience and was ready to stay away from peace talks if a deal was not reached quickly.

“This must happen soon,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC’s Meet Sunday. “We cannot continue to devote time and resources for this effort if not.”

He said that the United States is likely to take this week “a decision on whether this is an endeavor that we want to continue to participate in or whether the time has come to focus on some other issues.”