Ukraine-Russia War Latest: Trump Says Putin ‘Kept His Word’ as Missiles Fall and Peace Talks Begin
As Ukrainian and Russian delegations sit across from one another in Abu Dhabi for a new round of peace talks, the war at home has delivered a stark and violent counterpoint. Just hours before negotiations began, Russia launched its largest ballistic missile assault of the war, striking Kyiv and other cities in an attack that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says has directly affected his team’s preparations for diplomacy.
Despite the scale of the assault, former U.S. President Donald Trump defended Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming the Kremlin leader had “kept his word” by honoring a one-week pause on attacks against major cities and energy infrastructure — even as missiles and drones rained down on Ukraine.
The remarks have intensified debate over Russia’s intentions, the credibility of ceasefire commitments, and whether meaningful progress is possible at the negotiating table while the battlefield remains so active.
A Massive Attack on the Eve of Talks
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Ukraine woke to explosions as Russian forces unleashed 71 ballistic missiles, alongside waves of drones, in a coordinated strike targeting Kyiv and other urban centers. Ukrainian officials said it was the largest ballistic missile barrage since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Air defenses intercepted many of the incoming weapons, but several struck residential areas and critical infrastructure, causing widespread damage and civilian disruption. The timing was impossible to ignore: the attack came just one day before the second round of three-way peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.
Ukraine’s top negotiator confirmed that talks are now underway in Abu Dhabi, but the atmosphere has been profoundly shaped by the violence that preceded them.
President Zelensky said the overnight assault forced his delegation to rethink its approach, accusing Moscow of bad faith and of exploiting calls for restraint not to pursue peace, but to prepare for renewed attacks.
Trump Defends Putin’s “Word”
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Donald Trump addressed the assault — and surprised many by declining to criticize Putin.
“The pause was for Sunday to Sunday,” Trump said, referring to a one-week halt in attacks on major cities and energy infrastructure that he had requested. “It opened up and he hit them hard. He kept his word on that. One week is a lot — we will take anything.”
Trump argued that even limited pauses should be seen as progress in a conflict that has proven resistant to diplomacy. When asked directly whether he was disappointed by Putin’s actions, Trump avoided condemnation.
“I want him to end the war,” Trump said, emphasizing his belief that engagement, rather than public criticism, is the path toward resolution.
His comments immediately drew scrutiny, particularly given the scale of the attack and its civilian impact. Critics argue that framing the assault as consistent with a ceasefire commitment risks normalizing violence and weakening international pressure on Moscow.
Zelensky: Ceasefire Used to Prepare for War
Zelensky offered a sharply different interpretation. In a statement following the attack, he said Russia had used Trump’s ceasefire request as cover — not to reduce hostilities, but to stockpile missiles and drones for a devastating follow-up strike.
“Russia did not prepare for peace,” Zelensky said. “It prepared for another attack.”
According to Ukrainian officials, intelligence assessments suggest that the brief lull in strikes coincided with increased logistical movements, weapons positioning, and coordination — all pointing to an imminent escalation rather than de-escalation.
Zelensky warned that negotiating under such conditions places Ukraine at a disadvantage, as talks unfold against the backdrop of continued military pressure.
Talks Begin Under a Cloud of Distrust
The Abu Dhabi talks mark the second round of three-way discussions involving Ukrainian, Russian, and U.S. representatives. While expectations for a breakthrough are low, diplomats have framed the meetings as an opportunity to explore limited confidence-building measures, including humanitarian corridors, prisoner exchanges, and potential frameworks for future ceasefires.
Yet the missile barrage has cast a long shadow over the proceedings.
Ukrainian officials say the attack undermines trust and raises questions about Russia’s willingness to negotiate seriously. Russian representatives, for their part, have not publicly acknowledged any contradiction between military actions and diplomatic engagement.
Observers note that the talks are taking place amid deeply asymmetric conditions, with Ukraine defending itself from ongoing attacks while Russia negotiates from a position of continued military initiative.
The Political Stakes for Trump
Trump’s comments also carry significant political weight. By portraying Putin as someone who honors limited commitments, Trump reinforces his long-held view that personal diplomacy can succeed where sanctions and public pressure have failed.
Supporters argue that Trump’s approach reflects realism — accepting incremental steps rather than demanding immediate, comprehensive ceasefires that neither side may be ready to uphold. Critics counter that such framing risks excusing aggression and weakening Ukraine’s negotiating position.
The contrast between Trump’s remarks and Zelensky’s warnings highlights a broader divide in how the war is interpreted: as a conflict inching toward negotiation, or as one where diplomacy is repeatedly undermined by force.
Civilians Caught Between War and Diplomacy
Beyond political debate, the human impact of the attack remains severe. In Kyiv and other cities, residents spent the night in shelters as explosions echoed overhead. Damage to infrastructure disrupted daily life, and emergency services worked through the aftermath as talks began thousands of kilometers away.
For many Ukrainians, the juxtaposition of peace talks and missile strikes feels painfully familiar — a reminder that negotiations have often coincided with escalations rather than relief.
“This is what our diplomacy looks like,” one Kyiv resident said. “We talk about peace while we run to shelters.”
An Uncertain Path Forward
As negotiations continue in Abu Dhabi, the fundamental question remains unanswered: can diplomacy gain traction while large-scale attacks persist?
Trump insists that even temporary pauses represent progress. Zelensky warns that pauses without enforcement simply give Russia time to regroup. Between those positions lies a fragile diplomatic process struggling to survive under the weight of missiles, mistrust, and competing narratives.
For now, the talks proceed — not in the calm after a ceasefire, but in the immediate aftermath of the most intense ballistic missile attack of the war. Whether dialogue can endure under such conditions may determine not only the outcome of this round of negotiations, but the future direction of the conflict itself.
