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The US president was asked about Mr Zelensky's recent offer to purchase more Patriot air defence systems from the Trump administration.
“I don't know. He's always looking to purchase missiles, you know, he's against… listen. When you start a war, you got to know that you can win the war, right? You don't start a war against somebody that's 20 times your size. And then hope that people give you some missiles,” Mr Trump said.
On the war front, Kyiv forces launched a major drone attack on Russia's Kursk region that borders Ukraine this morning, Russian authorities said. At least 109 drones were downed over the Kursk region, the Russian ministry of defence said.
The attack killed an elderly woman, injured nine people and sparked fires in several buildings.
Russia openly refusing ceasefire: Zelensky
In his latest update on X, Ukrainian president Zelensky has called for more pressure on Russia as Putin stalls on a ceasefire.
Steffie Banatvala15 April 2025 10:15
If you're just joining us: Trump's repeated claims against Zelensky
- In a post on Truth Social yesterday, US president Donald Trump accused his Ukrainian counterpart of “allowing” the war to happen.
- Speaking from the Oval Office later, he again criticised Zelensky, saying he was not “competent” and that millions were dead because of Putin, Zelensky and Biden.
- He again said Zelensky “should have never started” the war, speaking at an impromptu press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
In context:
Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Trump’s claims came the day after Russia’s deadly attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
Trump previously described Zelensky as a “dictator” and swiftly withdrew his comment.
On the campaign trail, he claimed the war would not have happened if he was president.
Steffie Banatvala15 April 2025 10:00
Russian spy service says Russia, Belarus ready to act proactively
Russia's foreign spy service chief, Sergei Naryshkin, has said that Moscow’s intelligence and security services were ready to act proactively, given what he said was increased escalation from Europe over Ukraine, state news agency RIA has said
RIA cited Mr Naryshkin as saying that, in the event of an attack on Russia or Belarus, Russia would retaliate against Nato as a whole, but that Poland and the Baltic states would suffer first.
Steffie Banatvala15 April 2025 09:55
In pictures: aftermath of Kursk attack
Steffie Banatvala15 April 2025 09:45
Witkoff hints at what Russia's security demands entail
Steve Witkoff has said that negotiations between the US and Russia could be “on the verge of something that would be very, very important for the world”.
Witkoff discussed what he sees as Putin's demands after meeting the president in St Petersburg on Friday.
“Towards the end, we actually came up with... what Putin’s request is to get to, have a permanent peace,” he said.
Trump’s envoy then suggested a peace deal is “about the so-called five territories, but there's so much more to it: there’s security protocols, there's no NATO, NATO Article 5, I mean, it's just a lot of detail attached to it.”
NATO’s Article 5 is a principle which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all members, with a coordinated response.
Steffie Banatvala15 April 2025 09:33
Russia jails soldier for voluntary surrender to Ukraine: Russian media
A Russian military court has sentenced a soldier to 15 years in prison for desertion and voluntary surrender to Ukraine, Kommersant newspaper reported.
Russia in February 2022 made voluntary surrender a crime, punishable by three to 10 years in prison. This is the first prosecution of its kind.
Roman Ivanishin reportedly denied all the charges and will serve his sentence in a maximum security facility.
His trial was held behind closed doors.
Steffie Banatvala15 April 2025 09:18
If you're just joining us: Kursk attack summed-up
Kyiv forces hit Russia’s Kursk region with dozens of drones, killing an elderly woman and injuring nine people, Russian authorities said Tuesday.
The strike in Kursk, which borders Ukraine, set several buildings on fire in the administrative centre, they added.
At least 109 drones were downed over the Kursk region, the Russian ministry of defence said.
Kyiv often carry out air and land attacks on Kursk and border regions. Kyiv forces say their goal is to undermine Moscow's overall war efforts.
The attack follows a deadly Russian missile and bomb attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
Steffie Banatvala15 April 2025 09:15
In pictures: buildings damaged in Kursk attack
Steffie Banatvala15 April 2025 09:00
Trump claims 'millions dead because of three people'
Trump has blamed Putin, Zelensky and Biden for the lives lost since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“Millions of people are dead because of three people,” Trump said, speaking from the Oval Office.
“Let's say Putin number one, let's say Biden, who had no idea what the hell he was doing, number two, and Zelenskyy.
“And all I can do is try and stop it - that's all I want to do. I want to stop the killing.”
Steffie Banatvala15 April 2025 08:45
In pictures: Kursk attack
Steffie Banatvala15 April 2025 08:30
English (US) ·