08/01/2025August 1, 2025Trump calls Russian attack ‘disgusting’ as envoy heads to Moscow
US President Donald Trump criticized the latest Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine, suggesting that new sanctions against Moscow were coming.
“Russia, I think it’s disgusting what they’re doing,” Trump told journalists as he took questions after an executive order signing at the White House.
Trump, who initially gave Russia 50 days to reach a ceasefire with Ukraine or face tariffs, shortened the deadline to “10 or 12 days” on Monday and said Tuesday the countdown was now at 10 days.
On Thursday, he said, “I don’t know that sanctions bother him,” referring his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to travel to Russia, but it was not clear if he would meet with Putin.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yMf2
08/01/2025August 1, 2025Death toll from Russian attack on Kyiv rises to 31
The death toll from Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv Thursday has risen to 31, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday.
The toll was revised upward after rescuers recovered more bodies, including a two-year old child from a residential building in the Sviatoshynsky district.
“Once again, this vile strike by Russia demonstrates the need for increased pressure on Moscow and additional sanctions. No matter how much the Kremlin denies their effectiveness, sanctions do work – and they must be strengthened. They must target everything that enables such attacks to continue,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.
The mayor of the Ukrainian capital said more than 150 people were injured, including 16 children.
Vitali Klitschko said it was the highest number of children wounded in a single night since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had targeted Ukrainian military airfields and ammunition depots linked to Kyiv’s military-industrial complex. However, officials reported that schools and hospitals were damaged in 27 locations across the city.
City authorities have declared Friday a day of mourning.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yMeV
Kyiv is observing a day of mourning following Thursday’s deadly bombardment, one of the worst attacks since Russia launched its full-scale offensive in February 2022.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the geopolitical fallout. US President Donald Trump’s patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be wearing thin.
Over the past few days, Trump has repeatedly shortened the deadline to impose sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
His envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Russia after his current stop in Israel. The outcome of the trip could be telling.
https://p.dw.com/p/4yMeM