Donald Trump has urged Vladimir Putin to “STOP” after Russian strikes on Kyiv last night killed at least 12 people. Listen to the Daily podcast – on whether the US could walk away from a peace deal – as you scroll.
Thursday 24 April 2025 23:03, UK
Thanks for following our coverage of the war in Ukraine today.
We’re pausing our live updates for now, but we’ll be back with more tomorrow. Before we go, here’s a summary of the day’s key developments:
Hours after diplomatic efforts to end the war ramped up on Wednesday, Russia launched a deadly large-scale attack across Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air force said a total of 215 drones and missiles were launched at the country by Russia, with Kyiv among the areas worst hit.
The country’s capital sustained its largest attack since July last year, leaving at least 12 people killed and more than 100 injured.
“It is very important that everyone in the world sees and understands what is really happening,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in response to the strikes.
The Ukrainian president was on a visit to South Africa when the missiles hit his country, prompting him to cut the trip short.
He also said preliminary information shows that Russia “used a ballistic missile manufactured in North Korea” and explained that Ukraine’s special services are verifying the details.
But if the missile was made in North Korea, Zelenskyy said it would be further proof “of the criminal nature of the alliance between Russia and Pyongyang”.
Watch: Our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke maps out Russia’s overnight strikes on Ukraine
The strikes caused Donald Trump to take to Truth Social and issue a plea to Vladimir Putin.
“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV,” he said.
“Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”
The US president was then asked about the Russian attacks while hosting Norway’s prime minister in the Oval Office, and said he “wasn’t happy” but insisted “we’re putting a lot of pressure on Russia”.
He was also asked about Crimea following reports that his peace plan includes the US acknowledging Moscow’s control of the territory.
Trump admitted it would be “very difficult” for Ukraine to get the territory back, but reiterated his belief that “we’re getting close to a deal”.
Watch: Trump says “it takes two to tango” as he’s asked about Ukraine peace talks in Oval Office
Yesterday’s long Truth Social post was far from the first time Donald Trump has publicly criticised Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
It’s perhaps an understatement to say the two men have a complex relationship, going back years now.
We have to look back to 2019, the year the Ukrainian leader took office, for how it started.
The pair’s relationship has since weathered the start of the war in Ukraine, Trump’s reelection and – perhaps most famously – a heated exchange in the Oval Office in February, during which Zelenskyy was accused of being “disrespectful” to his country’s most powerful ally.
Here we look back at the key moments that have helped shape their relationship and how it has changed over the years.
Russian Senator and chess grandmaster Sergey Karjakin has told Sky News that Moscow is “winning” in peace talks.
Karjakin, who was also born in Crimea, said it is “important” for the peninsula to be recognised as Russian – something Donald Trump has reportedly said the US would do in his peace plan.
Watch the interview with our Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett below.
Despite Donald Trump putting himself at the centre of efforts to broker peace in Ukraine, he’s also sparked widespread concern with recent threats to walk away from talks if either side “make it very difficult”.
But could he be here to stay beyond 2028?
The Trump Organisation has teased that possibility with new merchandise listed on its online store.
Even though the Constitution forbids it, Trump and his allies have repeatedly flirted with the prospect of running for a third term.
The online store shows red hats with the slogan “Trump 2028” embroidered in bright white, while T-shirts are also on sale.
The hats are listed for $50 and have the following description:
“The future looks bright! Rewrite the rules with the Trump 2028 high crown hat. Fully embroidered with a snap closure in the back, this will become your new go-to hat.”
Meanwhile, the $36 shirts also feature the phrase “rewrite the rules”.
When asked for comment, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt referred our US partner network NBC News to the Trump Organisation “since it’s their website”.
But she added “it’s a cool hat and I suspect it will be highly popular!”
We’ve also heard from NATO’s secretary general Mark Rutte this evening, who confirmed he has met Donald Trump while in Washington.
He’s described it as a “good meeting” and said that the pair discussed the war in Ukraine.
“We all agree in NATO that Russia is a long-term threat to NATO territory, to the whole of the Euro-Atlantic territory,” Rutte told reporters outside the White House.
He also said there’s something on the table for both sides in peace talks, but added that he doesn’t know if Vladimir Putin wants peace.
Earlier, we told you about Rutte’s trip to the US capital where he met US defence secretary Pete Hegseth (see 4.48pm post).
He’s also expected to hold talks with US secretary of state Marco Rubio and Donald Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz.
Throughout the day, we’ve been bringing you updates on Russia’s massive overnight strikes across Ukraine.
Kyiv’s air force said Russia launched 215 drones and missiles at the country during its overnight attack.
Our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke takes a closer look at the strikes through the use of maps in the video below.
Back to Kyiv now, where Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given an update after Russia’s overnight strike.
We’ve been telling you that a Ukrainian military source said the ballistic missile that killed at least 12 people was North Korean, and that’s something Zelenskyy has now reiterated.
“According to preliminary information, the Russians used a ballistic missile manufactured in North Korea,” he said, adding “our special services are verifying all the details.”
He said that if the missile was made in North Korea, it will be further proof “of the criminal nature of the alliance between Russia and Pyongyang”.
“They kill people and torment lives together – that is the only meaning behind their cooperation,” he added.
“Russia continuously uses such weapons – missiles, artillery. In return, Pyongyang got the opportunity to make its weapons more deadly under real wartime conditions.”
One moment you may have missed from the Oval Office a little earlier was when Donald Trump invited Marco Rubio to get involved.
They were speaking after meeting with Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, and the US secretary of state said “everyone should be thanking” Trump for “being a peacemaker and trying to save lives”.
Our US correspondent Mark Stone pointed out that Trump could be particularly keen to talk about his peace-making efforts today as the Nobel committee is based in Norway, and the US president has his eyes on the peace prize (see 5.56pm post).
Rubio told reporters that the war in Ukraine “is not our war” but added “we’re trying to end the dying”.
“We’re trying to end the destruction and we’ve shown the path forward,” he said.
“We can see the finish line, but both of them have to get there, and we’re going to do everything we can to help them get there.”
But Rubio said both sides ultimately have to say yes, and he insisted “we are putting a lot of pressure on both”.
The debate over recognising Russian control of Crimea has reached a new peak over the last few days.
That’s because Donald Trump’s reported seven-point peace plan apparently does commit the US to acknowledging Moscow’s control of the territory.
But Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been firm in his stance that Ukraine would not accept the move, saying it is against its constitution.
Most of the international community agrees with him, and doesn’t formally accept Russia’s claim to the area.
However, Trump accused Ukraine’s president of prolonging the war due to his red line over Crimea, in a long Truth Social post yesterday.
By looking at the map below, you can see how the peninsula’s location makes it so sought after.
Crimea’s city of Sevastopol is home to a key warm-water port.
It’s the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet – although it has since moved its major assets due to Ukrainian attacks.
The strategically important territory on the Black Sea has a long history, including the 1853-1856 Crimean War between Russia on one side, and Britain, France and the Ottoman Empire on the other.
The area also held out against the Nazis in the Second World War and more recently was annexed by Vladimir Putin’s Russia in 2014.
After launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia deployed troops and weapons to Crimea, enabling its forces to quickly seize large chunks of southern Ukraine in the opening weeks of the war.
It was later revealed by a Russian military official that securing a land corridor to Crimea was one of the Kremlin’s key goals.
Donald Trump was also asked about Crimea following reports that his peace plan includes the US acknowledging Moscow’s control of the territory.
He says Ukraine has lost “a lot of territory” during the war, adding “we’ll do the best we can working with Ukraine”.
Turning specifically to Crimea, Trump says it was “handed over” while Barack Obama was president, saying “that had nothing to do with me”.
But he went on to say it will be “very difficult” for Ukraine to get the territory back.
The US president then says he has “no allegiance to anybody” but adds he has “an allegiance to saving lives”.
“I think we’re going to make a deal,” Trump added, saying “I think we’re getting very close to a deal”.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free