"I am not happy with the Russian attacks on Kiev. Unnecessary, and at a very bad time. Vladimir, STOP! 5,000 soldiers are dying every week. Let's get the peace deal done!" Donald Trump wrote on Truth.
The EU's commentary on Moscow's latest attacks in Ukraine, with many civilian victims, was harsher: "While claiming to seek peace, Russia has launched a deadly air strike on Kiev. This is not a search for peace, but a mockery of it. The real obstacle is not Ukraine, but Russia, whose war aims have not changed," wrote EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Kaja Kallas on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron was also intransigent when, during his visit to Madagascar, he launched an appeal to Putin himself, to "stop lying about Ukraine".
Macron himself took a swipe at the US: "The Americans should only blame one person, President Putin," said the leader of Paris, commenting on the stalemate in negotiations to reach a ceasefire.
(Unioneonline/lf)