WorldAPR 24, 2025
NATO Scrambles Jets Amid Putin’s Strikes On Ukraine As Trump Blasts Zelenskyy Over Crimea Stance
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Nine people were killed and over 80 were injured in Kyiv after a barrage of Russian drone and ballistic missile attacks overnight Thursday.
Among the injured are six children, Ukraine Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is currently in South Africa, said he would cut his trip short after meeting the nation’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and immediately return to Ukraine.
Highlights
- Nine people killed and over 80 injured by Russian attack in Kyiv.
- Zelenskyy cuts South Africa trip short due to the Russian attacks.
- NATO jets scrambled as Russia strikes multiple Ukrainian cities.
- Trump criticizes Zelenskyy for refusing to recognize Crimea as Russian territory.
The latest Russian attack on Ukraine has killed 9 people and injured over 80 others
NATO aircraft in Poland were deployed following the attack, with Russian forces also striking Kharkiv, Poltava region, Pavlohrad, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Zhytomyr.
“Due to the activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation, which is carrying out strikes on targets located, among others, in western Ukraine, the operation of Polish and allied aircraft has commenced in Polish airspace,” the Polish operational command announced, Metro reports.
NATO’s Allied Air Command also confirmed that Swedish aircraft had been scrambled in response to Russian aircraft near NATO airspace.
Image credits: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
“It is extremely important that everyone around the world sees and understands what is really happening,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “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.”
A Russian attack also struck the Sumy area of Ukraine on Palm Sunday, April 13, killing 34 people, including two children.
A further 119 people were injured in the ballistic missile attack.
The latest attack comes after U.S. President Donald Trump berated Zelenskyy for refusing to recognize Crimea as Russian territory.
A Russian attack in Sumy on Palm Sunday, April 13, killed 35 people and injured over 117 (pictured below)
Image credits: Global Images Ukraine / Getty Images
The U.S. president said a peace deal is very close, but “It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War.”
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, but Ukraine and the majority of the international community view it as occupied Ukrainian territory.
In a Wednesday post on Truth Social, Trump said Zelenskyy could either have peace or lose his entire country.
“The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country,” Trump said.
Trump has criticized Zelenskyy for refusing to accept Crimea as Russian territory as part of a potential peace deal
Image credits: Donald Trump
“I have nothing to do with Russia, but have much to do with wanting to save, on average, five thousand Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, who are dying for no reason whatsoever.
“The statement made by Zelenskyy today will do nothing but prolong the ‘killing field,’ and nobody wants that! We are very close to a Deal, but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE.”
According to numerous reports, Trump’s Russia envoy, Steve Witkoff, is traveling to Moscow for peace talks with President Vladimir Putin this week.
Image credits: The White House
While talks to discuss ending the war were supposed to be held with European, U.S. and UK officials in London on Wednesday, the meeting was downgraded after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulled out of the meeting.
People familiar with the peace talks told The Financial Times that a potential deal could involve the U.S. formally recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, while Russia would relinquish its claims to four Ukrainian regions it partially occupies.
“Ukraine will not recognize the occupation of Crimea. It’s our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine, there is nothing to discuss here,” Zelenskyy said on Tuesday.
Trump and Zelenskyy clashed at a White House meeting earlier this year
It is not the first time Trump and Zelenskyy have clashed over the Russia-Ukraine war.
Earlier this year, the pair had a tense exchange in the White House, with Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance claiming Zelenskyy was not thankful for U.S. support in the war.
During the meeting, Zelenskyy was also criticized for not wearing a suit.