ZEL UNDER SIEGE
Zelensky rushes back to Ukraine after unprecedented blitz on Kyiv kills 9 – as he faces Putin’s terror and Trump’s fury
Harrowing footage shows the moments the strikes rain down on Kyiv
VOLODYMYR Zelensky is rushing back to Ukraine after Russia's latest missile assault targeted civilians in Kyiv and left at least nine dead.
Six children and a pregnant woman were rushed to hospital following the barbaric attack as Ukraine continues to clash with a furious Donald Trump over peace talks.
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The deadly Kyiv strikes came just hours after the US President launched his latest verbal barrage against Zelensky.
Trump described Zelensky as a "man with no cards to play" as he announced a US/Russia peace deal is soon to be agreed.
He then insisted a complete peace deal between both Ukraine and Russia was “very close”- but it all hinges on Zelensky "getting it done".
Trump added that his Ukrainian counterpart can choose to continue to fight if he so wishes but it will cost him "the whole country".
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A defiant Zelensky revealed how "emotions ran high" on Wednesday after the US ramped up pressure on Kyiv to accept a peace deal.
Ukraine-Russia expert Stephen told The Sun that Trump may have hit out at Ukraine as he is becoming increasingly annoyed over the conflict continuing to rage on.
Trump believed he could end the war in a short space of time but his pleas and threats to both Zelensky and Putin are yet to work.
Mr Hall says that this week could be an example of Trump looking to end the war in the easiest way possible for the US.
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He said: "Trump has this 100 days idea that he has to achieve peace in 100 days, and so the easiest way to achieve that is to coerce Ukraine into a corner.
"This was always a potential issue and Ukraine needs American support in terms of intelligence sharing and weapons so they have to keep the Americans on side."
Trump says 'I think we have a deal with Russia' but slams Zelensky over peace talks as JD Vance issues FINAL ultimatum
And the political uncertainty was quickly compounded as a string of deadly Russian attacks ran riot across Ukraine.
At least nine people were tragically killed with over 80 wounded in overnight attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said.
Of these, 42 were taken to hospital in a serious condition - including a pregnant woman and six children.
Fears are mounting that as recovery operations across the capital continue, more bodies may be found.
Zelensky said the air attacks caused "significant destruction".
He added that over 70 missiles, including ballistic ones were used by the Kremlin along with about 150 attack drones.
Reports added that the Kremlin likely used Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles and Kalibr cruise missiles against the capital.
Ukraine's leader says he has chosen to cut short a key visit to South Africa - a member of the G20 alliance - due to the devastation in his capital.
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He spoke to President Ramaphosa on the need to intensify global diplomatic efforts before travelling home soon after.
Zelensky wrote on X: "It is extremely important that everyone around the world sees and understands what is really happening."
Mr Hall said he believes Zelensky may be travelling home to try and reinforce his desire for peace to the US and finally end the bloodshed.
The deadly strikes on Kyiv hit five districts just after 1am and quickly turned the city into a burning warzone.
Flames could be seen from miles away with dozens of buildings left crumbling to the ground due to the strikes.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko believes falling drone wreckage was responsible for triggering a number of fires.
British Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told parliament today: “We condemn Russia’s most brutal missile and drone attacks on civilians."
He also praised Zelensky for always being "committed to peace".
Mr Doughty also reaffirmed Britain's stance that they will not recognise Russian sovereignty over any Ukraine territory they have illegally seized.
This includes Crimea and any land that Vlad has managed to take during his three-year invasion.
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Close Zelensky aid Andriy Yermak added: "Putin shows only a desire to kill. The attacks on civilians must stop."
Latvia's Foreign Minister slammed Putin as "the butcher in the Kremlin".
Footage shows the rescue workers desperately trying to clear collapsed buildings in Kyiv into the early hours of Thursday morning.
Shell-shocked civilians were seen being led away from their family homes and residential blocks clutching onto their belongings.
Many were alerted of the strikes as they peacefully slept.
Thousands quickly escaped their homes and managed to find cover in temporary air raid shelters across the city.
Many gathered in underground rail stations as others huddled in school basements together.
Blasts were also reported in the city of Kharkiv with at least two people were injured, the mayor added.
Just hours earlier, Russia unleashed more deadly strikes on civilians in Ukraine — killing nine when a kamikaze drone hit a bus.
The lethal attack in Marhanets, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, injuring another 30 people.
Trump's seven-point plan
THE US has drafted up a seven-point plan which, it hopes, will draw a path to peace between Ukraine and Russia.
A source with knowledge of the plan revealed the content of the main points, reports :
- Immediate ceasefire in Ukraine
- Direct talks between Ukraine and Russia
- Ukraine to be barred from joining Nato
- US to formally recognise Russian sovereignty over Crimea
- US to give de-facto recognition of four Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia along current lines of control
- Ukraine to sign minerals deal to share profits on natural resources with the US
- All US sanctions lifted on Russia and both countries co-operate on energy
Further drone strikes triggered numerous fires and hit civilian infrastructure in the strategically vital Black Sea port of Odesa.
Another blitz injured six in central city Poltava, while Iranian-designed drones set off fires around the country’s second largest city, Kharkiv.
The Zaporizhzhia region was again targeted — a day after a strike on a civilian factory injured 38.
Ukraine's air force warned this morning that they believe all the country's regions are now under the threat of aerial attacks.
The week of barbaric assaults carried out by Moscow come as US President Donald Trump continues to seek out a deal to end the conflict.
The US efforts to broker peace have included several meetings between Putin and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Mad Vlad reportedly told Trump's envoy that Moscow could stop troops - and even renounce claims to four partly-occupied Ukrainian regions that remain under Kyiv's control, in a bid to reach a peace agreement.
Witkoff is expected in Moscow again on Friday.
It comes as reported on a seven-point peace plan being drawn up by the US, which could allow Russia to keep various land seized from Ukraine.
According to the plan, Putin would stay close to the territory his cannon fodder troops have seized from Zelensky, as outlined in an unconfirmed seven-point plan to end the war.
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It would leave Ukraine with no clear US security guarantee.
And includes the US offering formal recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea while implying de facto recognition of other occupied territories.
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