It has been 44 days since Ukraine agreed to a full ceasefire and a halt to strikes. This was a proposal from the United States. And it has been 44 days of Russia continuing to kill our people and evading tough pressure and accountability for its actions.
It is extremely important that everyone around the world sees and understands what is really happening. Nearly 70 missiles, including ballistic ones. And about 150 attack drones.
Unfortunately, there is significant destruction. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the rubble of residential buildings is being cleared. As of this moment, over 80 people have been injured across Ukraine. Everyone is receiving the necessary assistance. Regrettably, 9 people have been killed in Kyiv. My condolences go out to their families and loved ones.
There was a report from the military command. I instructed the Minister of Defense of Ukraine to immediately contact our partners regarding our requests to strengthen air defenses.
Today, I will brief President Ramaphosa of South Africa, who currently holds the G20 Presidency, on the situation and our need to intensify global diplomatic efforts. The strikes must be stopped immediately and unconditionally. We also count on support in humanitarian matters — in the return of our prisoners and Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. I am canceling part of the program for this visit and will return to Ukraine immediately after the meeting with the President of South Africa.
The Foreign Minister of Ukraine will hold all the necessary meetings in South Africa to fully inform the country’s political and civil society leaders about the situation.
I am grateful to everyone around the world who stands with Ukraine and supports our people.
Tragically, three-year-old Tymofii died in the hospital today. Seven-year-old Radyslav. Arina, who will forever be seven as well. Nine-year-old Herman. Fifteen-year-old Danylo. Fifteen-year-old Mykyta. Fifteen-year-old Alina. Kostiantyn, who will forever be sixteen. Nikita – seventeen. These are the children killed by a Russian ballistic missile strike on Kryvyi Rih. There were only a few minutes after the missile was launched from the enemy’s Taganrog area. Unfortunately, nine adults were also killed. My condolences to all the families and loved ones.
The missile struck right at the ordinary street with residential buildings, a playground, shops, and a restaurant around. Sixty-two people were injured in the attack, including twelve children. Some of them are in critical condition, they are currently in the hospitals. Doctors are doing everything possible to save lives.
In addition to that ballistic missile, the Russians launched attack drones against Kryvyi Rih yesterday during the rescue operation – in time of such grief for people. The drone attack injured seven people. One person was killed. There is simply no deeper level of cynicism, vileness, or hatred toward people than what Russia embodies today.
It is critically important not to leave this Russian strike on civilians, on the city – every such strike – without a response from the world. Kryvyi Rih and all of Ukraine have already been supported by many yesterday and today. I am grateful for the principled stance of the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Austria. I thank the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for her position and support. We value the principled statements made by the Embassies of Japan, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Germany. Unfortunately, the response from the U.S. Embassy is surprisingly disappointing – such a strong country, such a strong people, and yet such a weak reaction. They are afraid to even say the word “Russian” when speaking about the missile that murdered children.
Yes, the war must end. But to end it, we must not be afraid to call things by their names. We must not be afraid to pressure the one who continues this war and ignores all the world’s proposals to end it. We must pressure Russia – the one choosing to kill children instead of choosing a ceasefire. There must be additional sanctions against those who cannot exist without ballistic strikes on their neighboring nation. We must do everything in our capacity to save lives.
And we have discussed this, in particular with the American side, the additional air defense systems supply to defend against precisely these types of missile attacks. We count on our agreements with the President of the United States, who promised to help find more Patriots. And we count on the strength of the world to overcome this evil – this war, this Russian aggression.
Only through strength and coordinated action with partners can we stop the killing, save the lives of children, and establish lasting peace. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine – from the very beginning of this war, and especially on such tragic days.
Eternal memory to all our people whose lives were taken by Russian strikes.
Three years ago, our warriors liberated Bucha from the Russian occupiers. And the world saw what the Russian occupation truly is: people killed in the streets, people tortured, graves in the yards of ordinary houses.
Since then, no one in the world can say they do not know what Ukraine is defending. Ukraine is fighting for the lives of its people. It is fighting to ensure that no one, ever again, does on our land what the Russian occupiers did.
Eternal memory to all those whose lives were taken by the Russian war. Eternal gratitude to all our people who are defending Ukraine.
Last night alone, Russia launched 172 strike drones — over 100 of them were Shaheds. These massive drone attacks have now become a near-daily reality. On top of that, there are continued missile threats, including ballistic ones.
Our partners should clearly understand: these strikes are not just attacks on Ukrainian civilians, but also on all international efforts — on the very diplomacy we are trying to use to end this war.
Russia is striking at the positions of everyone who wants to end this war. It is impossible to ignore hundreds of Shaheds every night. We expect a response. We are working toward a response. A strong response is needed — from the U.S., from Europe, from everyone in the world who has placed their bets on diplomacy. Russia must be forced into peace — only pressure will work.
For far too long, the U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table — without a proper response from Russia. That says a lot. There could already have been a ceasefire — if there had been real pressure on Russia.
I thank those partners who understand this and are pushing the necessary decisions forward — including new sanctions.
"The defeat of Ukraine would be the defeat of Europe. The Baltic States, Georgia and Moldova are already on the list. Putin’s goal is to return to Yalta, where half the continent was ceded to Stalin." - French Senator Claude Malhuret made an excellent speech.
As EU leaders were chewing on their dinner in Brussels, over in Washington, Donald Trump was raising more doubts about NATO's future ...
To follow today's emergency meeting of European leaders as they discuss a new defense plan, head to our live blog: https://t.co/bI7koPXR6U
Your daily reminder about the fact that Ukraine sent about 6,000 troops to Iraq between 2003 and 2008 to help America and bring peace, 18 were killed in action, over 40 were injured.
🚨 BREAKING: Ontario Premier Doug Ford just canceled Elon Musk’s Starlink contract and banned all U.S. companies from government contracts in response to Trump’s economic war with Canada.
“It’s done, it’s gone,” Ford said. “We won’t award contracts to people who enable and encourage economic attacks on our province and our country.”
And just to be clear: “They only have President Trump to blame.”
So Trump starts a trade war, and now American businesses are getting locked out of Canada. This isn’t “tough negotiating”—this is our closest ally shutting the door on us while Trump pretends he’s “winning.”
MAGA wanted an economic war? Well, they just got one. And it’s American companies and workers who are about to feel the pain.
In the coming weeks, a massive information attack against Ukraine will emerge from the U.S. We will hear claims that Ukraine is an artificial country, a creation of Austria & USAID, a dictatorship ruled by Nazis, and that it illegally produces WMDs.
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His administration is suddenly reversing course after a federal judge ruled that the mass firings of probationary workers were probably illegal. https://t.co/Gc2FWJZZE2