Trump's Ukraine Peace Plan Faces Challenges

US President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with recent deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv, stating he is "not happy" and urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop". The attacks killed at least 12 people and injured 90 others, hindering efforts to advance a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Trump claimed he is putting pressure on both sides to end the war and said he would wait a week to see if a deal is reached, warning that "things will happen" if the bombings do not cease. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by stating that more pressure is needed on Russia to secure a ceasefire and that Ukraine is willing to negotiate but will not compromise on key issues, such as Crimea.

Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv, has stated that Ukraine may have to give up some of its land to Russia as part of a peace deal, calling it a "painful solution" that could bring "temporary peace." He emphasized that the Ukrainian people would "never accept occupation" by Russia. Klitschko's comments come amid pressure from US President Donald Trump on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept territorial concessions, and a recent deadly Russian missile attack on Kyiv that killed 12 people.

Russia launched a massive overnight attack on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, killing at least 12 people and injuring around 90 others. The attack, which involved 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four plane-launched air-to-surface missiles, and 145 drones, hit at least five neighborhoods in Kyiv and lasted for around 11 hours. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cut short his trip to South Africa and returned home, branding the strike as "one of (Russia's) most outrageous." The attack came as peace talks between Ukraine and Russia appeared to stall, with Ukraine refusing to surrender the occupied Crimea Peninsula. The Ukrainian government and European leaders blamed Russia for the continued violence, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to press his advantage on the battlefield.

Russia has returned the body of Victoria Roshchyna, a 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist who was captured in occupied eastern Ukraine and died in Russian detention. Roshchyna had been reporting for various independent news outlets, including Ukrainska Pravda and Radio Free Europe, and had previously been detained by Russian forces for 10 days in 2022. She disappeared in August 2023 while on a reporting trip to the Zaporizhzhia region and was later confirmed to be in Russian detention, but the circumstances of her arrest and death were not disclosed. A joint investigation found that she was held in several prisons, including one in the Russian city of Taganrog, where she reportedly stopped eating and had "knife wounds" on her body. Roshchyna's body was returned to Ukraine as part of an exchange in late February, but officials waited until they were certain it was her before announcing it, due to the condition of the body and requests from her family for multiple DNA examinations.

Former US President Donald Trump expressed his discontent with recent Russian strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine, calling them "not necessary" and "very bad timing" amid ongoing peace negotiations. He posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, telling Russian President Vladimir Putin to "STOP!" and stating that 5,000 soldiers are dying weekly. Trump's comments come as Russia launched a deadly attack on Kyiv, killing at least 12 people and injuring around 90, amid stalled peace talks. Trump has been vocal about his desire to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, but his approach has been met with criticism, and the situation remains unresolved.

Donald Trump's claim that he was joking when he said he would end the Ukraine war on "day one" of his presidency is false. A review of his public remarks found at least 53 instances where he seriously stated that he would end the war within 24 hours or before taking office during his 2023 and 2024 campaign trail. Trump repeatedly made this promise in a serious tone, framing it as a key component of his second-term agenda and justifying it with his claimed "credibility" as a leader and his relationships with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

US President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine are "very close to a deal" to end their three-year war after his envoy Steve Witkoff met with President Vladimir Putin. Witkoff's meeting with Putin was described as "constructive and very useful" by Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. Two differing visions of a peace deal are being considered, one supported by Ukraine and its European allies and another backed by the Trump administration, with the latter proposing the recognition of Crimea as Russian, which Ukraine has rejected. Trump stated that the two sides should now meet at high levels to finalize the deal, although direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow have not occurred since early in the war.

President Donald Trump's language and actions regarding the Russia-Ukraine war illustrate a one-sided peace plan that heavily favors Russia. Trump's wording about the conflict is "strange and tepid," and he has been criticized for not directly blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for the violence. After a massive Russian missile strike on Kyiv, Trump posted on Truth Social, "Vladimir, STOP!" but did not offer condolences to the victims or threaten consequences. In contrast, Trump has been critical of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, pressuring him to compromise on Russian demands. Trump's characterization of Russia's actions as a "concession" has been met with skepticism, with Ukrainian officials calling it "absurd." The administration's approach has been criticized for failing to coerce Russia into accepting generous terms and for not providing sufficient support to Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump's suggestion that Ukraine should recognize Russia's control over Crimea is threatening to upend international law and order. Recognizing Crimea as part of Russia would breach international law and multiple agreements made by the US, including the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said recognizing Russia's control is "against our constitution." International law experts say such a pronouncement would be "null and void" and could create a rift between Europe and the US. Crimea has been part of Ukraine since 1991, and its annexation by Russia in 2014 was widely condemned as illegal. Russia has imposed a repressive regime on Crimea, with human rights observers reporting numerous abuses. Trump's proposal is unlikely to have practical impact as other countries are unlikely to follow the US in recognizing Crimea as Russian, but it could damage US relations with NATO partners and make it harder for the US to support Ukraine.

Ukrainian authorities blame Russia for an overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv that killed 9 people and injured 70 others, including children. The attack, which began around 1:00 a.m., hit at least 5 neighborhoods in Kyiv, causing fires and damage to residential buildings. At least 45 drones were detected, and 42 people were hospitalized. The attack occurred hours after peace negotiations stalled, with President Donald Trump criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for prolonging the conflict by refusing to cede Crimea to Russia.

The US is on alert as Russia, under Vladimir Putin, plans to establish a naval base in Sudan, a move that could have significant strategic implications. The base, to be located at Port Sudan, would be Russia's first foreign naval base since the collapse of the Soviet Union and its only foreign naval base if it loses its base in Tartus, Syria. The development has triggered a warning from the State Department, which urged Sudan to avoid transactions with Russia's defense sector, citing potential "serious consequences." Analysts say Russia is seeking to expand its footprint in Africa and gain a strategic military advantage, with the base potentially serving as a logistics hub for Russian military operations and a means to disrupt global shipping. The move is seen as a challenge to US influence in the region and a potential threat to global security, particularly given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The US is concerned that Russia could use the base to disrupt shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, a critical waterway for global trade.

A recent 24-hour period in the Russia-Ukraine war saw Russia launch multiple Iranian drones and North Korean missiles, killing civilians and bringing further destruction. The attacks came as Donald Trump's peace plan appears to be faltering, with the plan being criticized for being one-sided and favoring Russia. Trump's efforts have been focused on pressuring Ukraine, and his proposal has been met with opposition from Ukraine, Europe, and even Russia's ally, China. As the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate, there are concerns that the US may abandon Ukraine, potentially leading to a significant shift in the balance of the conflict. European nations have pledged to continue supporting Ukraine, but it remains to be seen whether they have the unity and political will to fill the potential gap left by the US.

Donald Trump's frustration over the Russia-Ukraine war is growing, as evident in his recent comments on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump claimed to be "very close" to a deal, but his officials, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, have warned that the US is ready to "move on" or "walk away" if a deal isn't reached soon. Trump's comments on Truth Social blamed Zelenskyy for the lack of progress, notably omitting any reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and suggested that Ukraine should have fought harder to keep Crimea 11 years ago, placing the blame on former President Barack Obama. Zelenskyy is unable to concede to US demands to recognize Russia's claim to seized Ukrainian territory as it would be a breach of Ukraine's constitution.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the US and Russia are moving in the "right direction" to end the war in Ukraine, citing ongoing contacts between the two sides. This comes after a recent large-scale Russian attack on Kyiv, which killed at least 12 people and injured over 100, prompting a reaction from US President Donald Trump, who urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the attacks. Despite the violence, Trump remains optimistic about reaching a peace deal, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concerns over potential concessions, including recognizing Russian control over occupied territories.

President Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop his bombing campaign in Ukraine and agree to a peace deal after a deadly attack on Kyiv, writing "Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” on social media. The attack occurred a day after the Trump administration threatened to abandon peace talks if Ukraine did not accept a US peace proposal that heavily favored Russia. Trump's comments were striking as he has mostly avoided criticizing Putin and has instead directed his anger towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump claimed he was "using a lot of pressure" behind the scenes on both Russia and Ukraine, but refused to draw a moral distinction between Russia and Ukraine or blame Putin for the invasion. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Trump and said he did not think the US would walk away from the Russia-Ukraine talks.

Donald Trump's new peace proposal for the Russia-Ukraine war would involve the US recognizing Crimea as part of Russia, reversing over a decade of US policy. The proposal, presented in London, is seen as heavily favoring Moscow's position. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out recognizing Crimea as Russian, citing it as a violation of Ukraine's Constitution. Trump later suggested that the US recognition would not require Ukraine to do the same. Analysts are divided on the implications, with some seeing it as a pragmatic acknowledgment of the current situation, while others warn it would set a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes. The proposal is part of a broader effort to negotiate an end to the war, but its details are still subject to change.