Russia’s Latest Aerial Barrage Against Ukraine Not Dampening Hopes for Peace, Says U.S. President Trump
Despite a barrage of more than 200 missile and drone strikes by Russia against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, U.S. President Donald Trump remains optimistic about the possibility of brokering a deal to end the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.
Ukrainian officials reported the overnight attacks on Friday, which targeted five regions and caused damage to residential buildings and injuries to residents. However, Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin when he says he wants peace.
“I believe him. I think we’re doing very well with Russia,” Trump said, acknowledging the current situation where “they’re bombing the hell out of Ukraine.”
He went on to say, “He’s doing what anybody else would do. I think probably anybody in that position would be doing that right now.”
Trump also expressed frustration with Ukraine, stating, “I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. They don’t have the cards.”
When asked about the possibility of providing Ukraine with additional air defenses, Trump said it would depend on Ukraine’s willingness to settle the conflict.
“I have to know that they want to settle. I don’t know that they want to settle,” he said. “If they don’t want to settle, we’re out of there because we want them to settle.”
However, other U.S. officials have pushed back against the idea that Trump’s tactics to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table have made Ukraine more vulnerable. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told Fox News on Thursday that the pause on intelligence sharing is only meant to prevent Ukraine from launching offensive operations against Russia.
“Any intelligence going toward defending Ukraine against attacks coming into their country would continue,” Gabbard said.
A U.S. defense official confirmed on Friday that there has been no pause on intelligence that would allow Ukraine to defend itself. The official also stated that Ukraine still has access to Starlink, the satellite internet system owned by Trump ally Elon Musk.
Despite the overnight attack by Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media that many of the drones were taken out by antiaircraft defenses. He also revealed that French-made Mirage fighter jets and U.S.-made F-16s were used in air defense for the first time.
In a statement on his social media account, Zelenskyy said that despite the Russian attacks, Kyiv remains committed to seeking peace.
“Intense work with President Trump’s team has been ongoing at various levels — numerous calls,” he wrote. “The topic is clear — peace as soon as possible, security as reliably as possible. Ukraine is fully committed to a constructive approach.”
However, in a separate statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy expressed frustration with Moscow, stating, “Every day, new Russian attacks and reality itself prove that it is Russia that must be forced to make peace — to stop the war, to engage in real diplomacy.”
The latest barrage of Russian missiles and the responses from the U.S. and Ukraine come as Zelenskyy plans to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday for meetings with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss a possible ceasefire with Russia.
This meeting would be the first between Zelenskyy and U.S. officials since the Ukrainian leader’s contentious White House meeting last week with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, which was witnessed by reporters.
In a letter sent to Trump earlier this week, Zelenskyy expressed regret over the way the meeting went and stated that Ukraine is “ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible.”
The Voice of America’s Patsy Widakuswara and Jeff Custer contributed to this report. Additional information was provided by the Associated Press and Reuters. Despite the ongoing conflict and recent attacks, both the U.S. and Ukraine remain committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the situation. With continued efforts and negotiations, there is hope that a lasting peace can be achieved in the region.
