'Vladimir, stop!': Trump in rare rebuke to Putin after Kyiv strike

Deadly missile and drone assault leaves 12 dead and 90 injured

- Luke Harding

Donald Trump issued a rare rebuke of Moscow yesterday for a devastating air attack that killed 12 in Kyiv, telling the Russian president in a social media post: "Vladimir, STOP!"

The US president's remarks to Vladimir Putin came as he made a renewed push to end the Ukraine war, reportedly on terms favourable to Russia that include recognition of Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea, something President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he cannot accept.

Trump told reporters in Washington: "I have my own deadline" for ending the war, amid speculation he wants to get a ceasefire agreed before his 100th day in office on 30 April. During his election campaign he repeatedly claimed he would end the conflict within 24 hours.

The attack on Kyiv was the biggest and most deadly this year, with at least 12 people killed, including two children, and 90 injured. Russia also hit other cities.

Waves of drones as well as ballistic and guided missiles struck the Ukrainian capital early yesterday. There were explosions for much of the night, beginning at about 1am local time, and the rattle of anti-aircraft fire as Ukrainian defences tried to shoot the missiles down. Zelenskyy said: "To our great regret, there is destruction and loss in our capital." The injured included six children and a pregnant woman, with more than 40 people taken to hospital.