Trump suggests deadly Russian strike on Kyiv could set back peace efforts

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, May 15 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday suggested a Russian missile strike on a Kyiv apartment building that killed 24 people, including three children, could set back efforts to find a peaceful settlement to Moscow’s war in Ukraine. 

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back from China, Trump – who has tried and so far failed to broker an end to a war he has called a senseless bloodbath – said he had discussed the conflict with President Xi Jinping and that both leaders had agreed that they wanted the fighting to end. 

“It’s one that we’d like to see settled. Until last night, it was looking good, but they (the Ukrainians) took a big hit last night. So it’s gonna happen (the end of the war). But it’s a shame,” Trump said, in a reference to the Russian attack. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for Moscow to be punished for the strike after laying red roses at the rubble of the apartment building on Friday.

Russia said that Ukrainian drones had killed four people, including a child, in an overnight strike on the city of Ryazan.

Both sides say they do not deliberately target civilians.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to China and meet Xi next week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the exact dates would be announced soon. 

Peskov said Putin hoped to discuss Trump’s China visit with Xi, as well as bilateral ties and international matters.    

(Reporting by Trevor Huunnicutt; additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Susan Heavey in Washington; Writing by Gleb Bryanski/Andrew Osborn Editing by Ros Russell)