Russia struck the Donetsk region in Ukraine on Friday, killing at least 11 and wounding 30 people according to Ukraine’s officials, hours after President Trump threatened to impose sanctions on Moscow in an effort to drive ceasefire negotiations.
“Last night, the Russian army fired two ballistic missiles at the center of Dobropillya in the Donetsk region. After our services arrived at the scene, they launched another strike, deliberately targeting rescuers. A vile and inhumane tactic for intimidation that the Russians often resort to,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a Saturday post on Telegram.
“Unfortunately, 11 people have died so far. My condolences to their families and friends. More than 30 more people were injured, including 5 children,” he added.
On Friday, Trump floated the Russia sanctions in an effort to bring the Eastern European country to the negotiation table to end its war with Ukraine.
“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED,” Trump posted Friday on Truth Social.
“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late,” he added.
The Kremlin attacks also come just a few days after Trump revoked U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine, limiting their ability to detect incoming missiles with satellite drones following a heated exchange with Zelensky in the Oval Office last Friday. The administration also paused U.S. military aid for the country.
Zelensky said Friday’s assaults show Russia is still fully engaged in their war efforts despite talks of peace.
“Such strikes show that Russia’s goals are unchanged. Therefore, it is very important to continue to do everything to protect life, strengthen our air defense, and tighten sanctions against Russia,” he wrote in the Telegram post.
“Everything that helps [Russian President Vladimir] Putin finance the war must break down,” he added.
Republicans have urged Trump to re-engage in intelligence sharing, which they say the lack of hurts Ukraine’s warfighting ability and undercuts the country’s leverage in talks with Russia. But the president maintained that he was “finding it more difficult to deal with Ukraine” than Russia in the Oval Office on Friday.
“I think he [Putin] wants to get it stopped and settled and I think he’s hitting them harder than he’s been hitting them and I think probably anybody in that position would be doing that right now,” Trump told reporters.
“Despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax I’ve always had a good relationship with Putin. He wants to end the war,” the president added. “And I think he’s going to be more generous than he has to be.”
Trump touted a letter from Zelensky on Tuesday as a clear showing of the country’s intent to smooth over relations with the leader after their public spat but has not addressed whether the U.S. would revive the information trade off or military support.
U.S. leaders are expected to meet with Ukraine’s officials this week in Saudi Arabia to resume peace talks and discuss the future of their minerals deal that was supposed to be signed last Friday.
