Trump suggests deadly Russian strike on Kyiv could set back peace efforts
ON AIR FORCE ONE, May 15 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that Russia’s missile attack on a Kiev apartment building that killed 24 people, including three children, could disrupt Moscow’s efforts to find a peaceful solution to its war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back from China, Trump — who has tried and so far failed to end the war, which he described as a senseless bloodbath — said he had discussed the conflict with President Xi Jinping and that both leaders agreed they wanted the conflict to end.
Referring to Russia’s attack, Trump said, “This is an issue we want resolved. It looked good until last night, but they (the Ukrainians) took a big hit last night. So it will happen (the end of the war). But it’s a shame.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for Moscow to be punished for the strike after leaving red roses in the rubble of his apartment building on Friday.
Russia said Ukrainian drones killed four people, including a child, in an overnight attack on the city of Ryazan.
Both sides say they did not deliberately target civilians.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to go to China next week and meet with Xi. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the exact dates will be announced soon.
Peskov said Putin hopes to discuss bilateral relations and international issues in addition to Trump’s visit to China with Xi.
(Reporting by Trevor Huunnicutt; Additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Susan Heavey in Washington; Writing by Gleb Bryanski/Andrew Osborn Editing by Ros Russell)
