US frustration over stalled Ukraine deal 'should be directed at Putin', Macron says

24/04/2025 - 22:08

NATO chief says ball 'clearly in Russian court' on Ukraine deal

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Thursday that it was Russia, not Ukraine, that needed to move forward in negotiations on the war, after US President Donald Trump lashed out at Kyiv. 

"There is something on the table now, I think, where the Ukrainians are really playing ball. And I think the balls are clearly in the Russian court now," Rutte told reporters at the White House after meeting Trump.

24/04/2025 - 22:05

US, European allies agree Russia is a long-term threat, NATO chief says

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said after talks with US President Donald Trump on Thursday that the United States and its European allies agree that Russia is a long-term threat.

"We all agree in NATO that Russia is the long-term threat to NATO territory -- to the whole of the Euro-Atlantic territory," Rutte told reporters outside the White House.

He also said the United States remained committed to NATO, even as Washington increasingly focuses on the Asia-Pacific region.

24/04/2025 - 21:44

Trump says Russia made 'pretty big concession' by stopping short of seizing all of Ukraine

President Donald Trump says Russia has already made a “pretty big concession” to end the war in Ukraine by stopping short of taking control of the whole country.

But the notion is one that Ukraine and much of Europe have fiercely pushed back against, arguing that Russia pausing a land grab is hardly a concession.

FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg reports from Kyiv.

24/04/2025 - 20:41

Russia used North Korean missile in Kyiv attack, Zelensky says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia used a North Korean ballistic missile in deadly Kyiv attack that killed 12 and wounded dozens.

"According to preliminary information, the Russians used a ballistic missile manufactured in North Korea. Our special services are verifying all the details," Zelensky said on social media.

24/04/2025 - 20:14

Trump says not happy with Russia strike on Kyiv, putting pressure on Moscow

President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was not happy with Russia's strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv overnight and said without elaborating the US was putting a lot of pressure on Russia to make a deal.

"You have no idea what pressure I'm putting ... We're putting a lot of pressure. We're putting a lot of pressure on Russia, and Russia knows that," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

He added later that Washington is also putting pressure on Ukraine for a peace agreement.

24/04/2025 - 18:55

Poland strongly condemns Russian attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv

Poland strongly condemned the Russian attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv, which killed at least 12 people in Ukraine's capital.

"We express our solidarity with Ukraine, extending our sympathy to the families of the victims and all those affected by this tragedy," the Polish Foreign Ministry said on X.

24/04/2025 - 18:16

South Africa president backs Ukraine truce push at Zelensky meeting

President Cyril Ramaphosa praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his first visit to South Africa on Thursday for agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire in the war with Russia so that peace talks could begin.

Ramaphosa threw South Africa's weight behind the push for an end to the more than three-year war, holding talks with Zelensky hours after agreeing in a call with US President Donald Trump that the conflict should be ended urgently.

"It is a good signal from President Zelensky that Ukraine is agreeable to an unconditional ceasefire so that discussions and negotiations can then ensue," Ramaphosa told reporters after talks with the Ukrainian leader who arrived early Thursday.

"This, we believe, is a very positive signal that should be embraced," he said. "It is a confidence-building measure that should be a key ingredient in a negotiation process."

24/04/2025 - 17:48

Ukrainian FM says progress on critical minerals deal with US, no deal this week

Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said on Thursday that Kyiv and Washington have made progress on the minerals deal, but no agreement would be finalised this week.

The two sides signed a memorandum a week ago as an initial step towards clinching an agreement on developing mineral resources in Ukraine, a deal promoted by US President Donald Trump that has proven elusive.

“There was progress and now our teams are working very closely together,” he said after an event hosted by the Ukrainian embassy. "There are still some questions which we are discussing,” he said, without providing any details.

Marchenko also said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wants the issue of frozen Russian assets to be part of broader discussions.

24/04/2025 - 16:51

Death toll from Russian strike on Kyiv rises to 12, emergency service says

The death toll from a Russian missile attack on Kyiv – the largest since last summer – rose to 12 people after two more bodies were pulled from under the rubble, Ukrainian rescuers said Thursday.

"As of 5:30 pm (1430 GMT), the death toll in Kyiv's Sviatoshinsky district has risen to 12," Ukraine's state emergency service said on social media, adding that the number of wounded had risen to 90 people.

24/04/2025 - 16:25

US anger over stalled Ukraine deal 'should be directed at Putin', Macron says

France's President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was the only person holding up a US-proposed and European-backed "unconditional ceasefire" deal for Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky "has said yes" to it, Macron told journalists during a visit to Madagascar. "If President Putin says yes, the weapons will fall silent tomorrow, lives will be saved."

"US anger should be directed at only one person, President Putin," he added.

24/04/2025 - 16:21

Death toll from Russian missile strikes rises to 10, Ukraine's ministry of internal affairs says

Ukraine's ministry of internal affairs on Thursday said the death toll from the Russian missile strikes on Kyiv has risen to 10 as of 4:45pm local time (GMT+3).

24/04/2025 - 16:21

Zelensky says Ukraine would do 'everything' but cannot budge on Crimea

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Kyiv would do "everything" its allies wanted but could not recognise Russia's annexation of Crimea, considered illegal under Ukraine's constitution.

"We do everything that our partners have proposed, only what contradicts our legislation and the constitution we cannot do," Zelensky told reporters during a visit to South Africa in response to a question about Ukraine's position on ceasefire talks.

24/04/2025 - 16:17

Zelensky says does not 'see any strong pressure on Russia' to halt invasion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he did not see signs Russia was being pressured to halt its invasion or agree to a ceasefire.

"I don't see any strong pressure on Russia or any new sanctions packages against Russia's aggression," Zelensky said in a press conference during a visit to South Africa, adding that US President Donald Trump had previously warned of repercussions if Moscow did not agree to a ceasefire.

24/04/2025 - 16:11

Zelensky says Russia putting 'pressure' on US with Kyiv strike

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Russia's large-scale missile attack on Kyiv, the deadliest strike on the Ukrainian capital in months, was designed to put "pressure" on the United States.

"Russia understands that Ukraine is standing up, defending its rights and (it) is putting pressure on our people. It is also putting pressure on America," Zelensky told journalists in South Africa. "This is what I also link today's attack with."

24/04/2025 - 15:53

UK condemns 'horrific' Kyiv attack

The UK Thursday condemned a missile strike by Russia on Kyiv that killed nine and left dozens wounded as "a vicious attack" and not actions conducive to peace.

"While Ukrainian ministers were in London working towards peace, (President Vladimir) Putin's Russia was attacking the Ukrainian people," UK foreign minister David Lammy said on X.

"These are not the actions of a man of peace," he added. Junior foreign minister Stephen Doughty condemned the "absolutely horrific scenes" after Thursday's attack as "a stark reminder of the continued bloodshed and aggression perpetrated by Putin".

24/04/2025 - 15:52

EU says Kyiv strike shows Russia 'real obstacle' to peace

Russia's deadly attacks on Kyiv showed Moscow was blocking peace efforts, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday, after US President Donald Trump blamed Ukraine for hindering his push.

"While claiming to seek peace, Russia launched a deadly airstrike on Kyiv. This isn't a pursuit of peace, it's a mockery of it," Kallas wrote on X. "The real obstacle is not Ukraine but Russia, whose war aims have not changed."

24/04/2025 - 15:50

Russia says targeted Ukraine defence industry in overnight strikes

Russia said Thursday it had targeted Ukraine's defence industry, including plants that produced "rocket fuel and gunpowder", in overnight strikes that Kyiv says killed at least nine people.

"Overnight, the Russian armed forces carried out a massive strike with long-range air, land and sea-based weapons, and drones, on Ukraine's aviation, aerospace, machine-building and armoured vehicle industries," the defence ministry said, adding: "The objectives of the strike have been achieved".

24/04/2025 - 15:43

'Massive' Russian missile attack kills nine in Kyiv

A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack hit Kyiv overnight, killing nine people and injuring another 70, including six children, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday. 

The Kyiv City Military Administration said on its Telegram channel that Russia struck Kyiv with drones and ballistic missiles. At least 45 drones were detected, the administration said, adding that Ukraine's Air Force would update the figures later. 

24/04/2025 - 15:39

'Vladimir, STOP!': Trump chides Putin over Kyiv attack

US President Donald Trump voiced frustration Thursday over deadly Russian missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as he pushes both sides to agree to a ceasefire.

"I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV," Trump said on social media in a rare rebuke directed at Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

"Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!"

24/04/2025 - 15:31

Zelensky says cutting short S.Africa visit after deadly Russian strike on Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will be cutting short a visit to South Africa Thursday to urgently return to Kyiv after a Russian strike on the capital killed at least nine people.

"I am cancelling part of the program for this visit and will return to Ukraine immediately after the meeting with the President of South Africa," Zelensky, who arrived in the country hours earlier, said on social media.

(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and Reuters)