Donald Trump launched on Wednesday a blistering attack on Volodymyr Zelensky, seemingly accusing him of preventing the war with Russia from ending.

By Alice Scarsi, World News Editor, Max Parry, News Reporter

13:41, Thu, Apr 24, 2025 | UPDATED: 14:35, Thu, Apr 24, 2025

President Trump Signs Executive Orders In The Oval Office

Donald Trump shared a message for Russia via Truth Social (Image: Getty)

Donald Trump hit out at Vladimir Putin in light of Russia's latest deadly attack on Ukraine overnight. The US President took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his anger at the Kremlin for refusing to de-escalate the conflict.

He wrote on Thursday: "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing." He then pleaded: "Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!". The President's latest intervention struck a different tone to his statement on Wednesday, in which he criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for making "inflammatory statements".

Mr Zelensky said yesterday he would not recognise Russian sovereignty over Crimea, after the White House proposals for peace included plans for the Kremlin to be formally recognised as the owner of the territory. Dismissing the plans, Mr Zelensky said: "There is nothing to talk about. This violates our constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine."

In response, Mr Trump said: "It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country."

Today, however, Mr Zelensky was said to be "agreeable to an unconditional ceasefire", according to South African president Cyril Ramaphosa. The comments came during a joint press conference held by the two leaders in Pretoria.

RUSSIA-POLITICS-ECONOMY

Vladimir Putin (Image: Getty)

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in South Africa

President Zelensky shakes hands with President Ramaphosa (Image: Getty)

The proposed White House deal would see Ukraine give up sovereignty of Crimea and most of Kherson. Russia would also hold on to most of the territories it occupies and US sanctions would be lifted.

Ukraine would get unfettered access to the Dnipro river and a slice of Kherson. The US would manage the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Meanwhile, key Putin ally and head of the Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu told state news agency TASS that the Kremlin reserved the right to use nuclear weapons if a foreign power showed aggression towards Russia or Belarus.

Directly confronting Sir Keir Starmer's "coalition of the willing" plan for peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, the 69-year-old senior officials said: "Sensible politicians in Europe understand that the implementation of such a scenario [putting Western troops on the ground in Ukraine] could lead to a direct clash between NATO and Russia and subsequently to World War Three."