Trump says progress in talks as Kyiv hit by missile strike

U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington is making progress in talks with Russia and Ukraine, describing a recent meeting as "very good" and saying the sides have held "very good talks." He gave few details about the discussions but said the administration is "working well with Russia and Ukraine" and that "we're making a lot of progress."

Diplomacy amid escalating violence

Trump also confirmed he has met with a number of people as part of the effort and indicated that officials are considering a trilateral meeting of representatives from the United States, Ukraine and Russia to try to move diplomatic efforts forward. At the same time he publicly criticized the U.S. Senate, accusing Democrats and some Republicans of blocking laws and stalling the administration’s work.

"The Senate has to do something. Nothing is getting passed in the Senate, and that is destroying our country — frankly, neither the Democrats nor the Republicans are getting anything done," Trump said, urging Senate Republican leader John Thune and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to find common ground. "The Democrats vote as a block, we can have the best bill in the world for our country and they vote against it. Also, there are always a few Republicans who obstruct. I hope John Thune will finally get them to act."

While Washington talks about possible diplomatic breakthroughs, violence on the ground continued. A Russian missile strike hit Kyiv, wounding five people and heavily damaging a kindergarten. Witnesses described a large crater at the impact site, scattered children’s toys in the yard and damage to surrounding residential buildings.

"It's hard, very hard. We were at home with my granddaughter. The first wave of strikes threw us against one wall, then the other, because we were in the corridor. It's very hard. No sleep, no peace — nothing. The children don't sleep, and neither do we. I'm old, I'll endure, but what have the children done wrong? Why must innocent children go through this? It's terrible. She's home now, I gave her medicine to calm her. She can't sleep, she can't do anything," said Katerina Kornijchuk, a Kyiv resident.

Another resident, Oleksander Hajovi, described damage to his recently purchased car and the panic at home. "Last night there was a strike in this yard. I wasn't here when it happened; my brother was staying here tonight, together with our grandfather. This is my grandfather's apartment. I left the car here. I bought it less than two weeks ago and didn't even have time to transfer the registration. And today, to top it all off, my insurance expired. He called me at about two o'clock. My brother says: 'I managed... to run into the bathroom. In our building not a single window remained.' A few minutes later, he sent me a message: 'Come — your car is destroyed,'" Hajovi recounted.

Whether the diplomatic contacts will produce a concrete step toward a ceasefire and an end to the war remains unclear. For residents of Kyiv, the prospect of lasting peace still feels distant.

Photo: press material from the event