A US official stated on Thursday that President Donald Trump desires a peace agreement to halt the 'senseless killing' in Ukraine, following a devastating Russian missile barrage on Kyiv that claimed at least 21 lives.
US Official Expresses Trump's Humanitarian Stance
'President Trump has a humanitarian heart and wants this war settled so the senseless killing ends,' the US official told AFP in response to a query about the Russian attack. 'The President and his team have worked very hard to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, and he remains optimistic that we'll ultimately get a peace deal done.'
Massive Russian Barrage Hits Kyiv
The overnight attack tore open apartment buildings in the Ukrainian capital, sending tens of thousands of residents into shelters. Both Kyiv and Moscow have vowed to continue fresh assaults in the four-year-long conflict.
Trump's Previous Claims and Stance
Before returning to office last year, Trump claimed he could resolve the Ukraine war within 24 hours. However, US efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far failed. Trump has criticized the cost of military aid for Ukraine and famously berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office in February 2025. In contrast, he has maintained a largely friendly tone toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, though he has shown growing frustration with Putin's refusal to end the war.
Zelensky Calls for Accelerated Air Defense Aid
Zelensky on Thursday called on allies to discuss speeding up air-defense aid for his war-torn country at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara next week, which Trump will attend.
