Trump says peace remains the goal after deadly Russian attack on Kyiv

United States President Donald Trump remains committed to ending the war in Ukraine and believes a peace agreement is still possible.

United States President Donald Trump remains committed to ending the war in Ukraine and believes a peace agreement is still possible despite the latest deadly Russian attack on Kyiv, a US official said on Thursday. The statement came after a large scale overnight assault on the Ukrainian capital left at least 21 people dead and caused widespread destruction, adding to the growing human cost of the conflict.

According to the official, President Trump wants the war to end because of the heavy loss of civilian lives and the suffering it continues to cause. The official said Trump has consistently supported efforts to stop the fighting and remains hopeful that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine can eventually lead to a lasting settlement. The administration believes diplomacy remains the best path to ending a conflict that has continued for more than four years.

The latest Russian bombardment struck several parts of Kyiv, damaging apartment buildings and forcing tens of thousands of residents to seek safety in shelters during the night. Rescue teams continued searching through damaged buildings while emergency workers treated the injured and cleared debris from affected areas. The attack was one of the deadliest to hit the Ukrainian capital in recent months and has once again highlighted the dangers faced by civilians living in the war zone.

Following the attack, both Ukraine and Russia signaled that military operations would continue, raising concerns that the fighting could intensify instead of moving closer to a ceasefire. Despite repeated international efforts to reduce tensions, no major breakthrough has been achieved and both sides continue to exchange attacks across different regions.

Before returning to the White House, Trump had said he believed he could help end the war quickly. Since taking office again, his administration has made several attempts to encourage negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. However, those diplomatic efforts have not yet produced an agreement or a lasting ceasefire.

Trump has frequently questioned the financial cost of continued military assistance to Ukraine and has argued that greater attention should be given to achieving peace through negotiations. Earlier this year, he held a tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, where the two leaders publicly disagreed over the direction of US support and the handling of the conflict.

At the same time, Trump has generally maintained a more measured approach in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Even so, recent comments from the White House suggest the president has become increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress toward ending the war and Russia’s continued military actions.

In response to the latest attacks, President Zelensky called on Ukraine’s international partners to strengthen the country’s air defense capabilities. He urged allied nations to discuss faster delivery of additional defense systems during the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump is also expected to take part. Ukrainian officials believe stronger air defenses are essential to protect civilians as Russian missile and drone attacks continue across the country.

With no immediate sign of an end to the fighting, diplomatic efforts remain under close international attention as world leaders search for a way to reduce the violence and move both sides toward meaningful peace talks.