Today's News: Russian Missile Strikes on Kyiv Spark Rare Trump Rebuke

The attack came amid stalled U.S.-led peace talks, which propose that Ukraine concede territory, including Crimea, in exchange for a ceasefire.

Terrence Dorsey

Apr 24, 2025

Photo: Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters

Date: April 24, 2025
Topic: Russian Missile Strikes on Kyiv Spark Rare Trump Rebuke and Renew Debate Over U.S.-Brokered Peace Plan
Summary: A major Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv killed at least 12 people and injured over 90, prompting a rare and public rebuke from President Donald Trump directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin. The attack came amid stalled U.S.-led peace talks, which propose that Ukraine concede territory, including Crimea, in exchange for a ceasefire. President Trump and his administration continue to pressure Ukraine to accept the plan, despite widespread resistance from Kyiv and alarm among U.S. allies. The attack has intensified criticism of Russia’s conduct and increased doubts about the feasibility and fairness of the current U.S. peace proposal.

Sources

Key Points

Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks on Kyiv since the war began, killing at least 12 and injuring more than 90.
President Trump publicly criticized Vladimir Putin for the strikes, a rare departure from his usual tone, but reiterated pressure on Ukraine to accept a U.S.-proposed peace deal.
The U.S. proposal includes recognizing Russia’s control over Crimea and freezing current front lines, effectively rewarding Russian territorial gains.
Ukraine insists on a full ceasefire before considering any territorial concessions and has rejected U.S. pressure to accept unfavorable terms.
European and Asian allies expressed alarm at the U.S. proposal, warning it undermines international law and rewards aggression.

Unique Highlights

The New York Times: Captured emotional civilian testimonies and described the deadly impact of the missile strike on residential areas.
CNN: Reported in-depth on international diplomatic backlash, with quotes from Eastern European and Asian diplomats warning of global precedent-setting.
NBC News: Quoted Trump stating he “thought it might be easier to deal with Zelenskyy,” and noted Trump’s wavering on whether he believed a deal was finalized.
Fox News: Highlighted Trump's Easter message and his earlier calls on Russia to “get moving” on peace, emphasizing his business-oriented framing.
The Washington Post: Featured street-level reactions from Kyiv residents calling Trump’s position humiliating and underscoring Ukraine’s demand for a ceasefire first.
The Wall Street Journal: Detailed the contents of the U.S. two-page proposal, including the exclusion of future military guarantees for Ukraine and the denial of NATO membership.

Contrasting Details

Trump’s stance on Crimea varies: The Wall Street Journal and Fox News note he emphasized Ukraine is not being required to recognize it as Russian, while The Washington Post and CNN describe the U.S. framework as explicitly including such recognition.
Tone toward Ukraine differs: NBC News and The New York Times reflect more sympathy toward Ukrainian resistance, whereas Fox News continues emphasizing Zelenskyy's "inflammatory" posture as a barrier to peace.
Assessment of progress splits: CNN reports European officials seeing Ukrainian willingness to discuss territory as progress, while The Washington Post and The New York Times portray continued deep Ukrainian resistance and frustration.
Perception of U.S. diplomacy: CNN describes it as “rudderless” and lacking strategy, while Fox News and The Wall Street Journal present it as focused and deadline-driven under Trump’s leadership.

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