Just hours had passed since Donald Trump had congratulated himself on "reaching a peace agreement with Russia," while stating that everything with Zelenski (the man without cards, according to the blond president) was "going to be much more difficult".
In Trump's world, Vladimir Putin is "the good guy." That's why today he called him by name to beg him to stop the real-world carnage when there was supposed to be an agreement already: "Vladimir, STOP," Trump clamored from his social network, ironically named Truth: "I am not happy with the Russian attacks in Kiev. It is unnecessary and a very bad time. 5,000 soldiers are dying every week Let's get the PEACE agreement!" Once again, the US president showed appeasement towards the Russian, and the latter responded as usual: with a major bombardment on civilian targets to terrorize the population. "This is not seeking peace but mocking it," said Kaja Kallas, head of European diplomacy.
Russian ballistic missiles arrived promptly to punish the Ukrainian civilian population. Following Donald Trump's furious attack on Zelenski for not accepting a peace agreement heavily skewed in favor of Russia, Vladimir Putin felt empowered to launch the deadliest in months against residential areas in Kiev, resulting in at least 12 dead (six of them children) and over 70 injured. But the projectiles not only reached the capital: in a night of fire, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Pavlograd were also bombed.
The attack, which began around one in the morning, hit at least five neighborhoods in the Ukrainian capital in several waves. Russia launched 215 drones and missiles in the nighttime attack against Ukraine, as reported by the Ukrainian air force. Russia used 17 ballistic missiles, 37 X-101 cruise missiles, 12 Kaliber cruise missiles, four Kh-59 cruise missiles, and 145 Shahed drones in the attack. Among the ballistic missiles, Ukrainian security services found debris belonging to the deadly North Korean KN23 missiles, incorporated by Pyongyang into the Russian arsenal.
The Russian leader feels emboldened when he detects appeasing attitudes and launches his worst attacks. We have witnessed two very bloody ones in recent weeks: Kryvyi Rih (18 dead),Sumy (35 dead), and today, in Kiev. The pressure for Ukraine to sign that Trumpian peace has to do with its resistance to surrender when it has not lost any wars. Russia's satisfaction stems from its unexpected concessions when it has not won any.
Moscow first launched a swarm of Iranian-origin Shahed drones. Previously, they would reach the city and directly target the objective. Now, the strategy is different: they fly in circles at high altitudes to gather the group in the sky, and when they are all together, they launch the attack. The goal is to saturate defenses to make the bombing more lethal. Following this, when defenders and ammunition are depleted, ballistic missiles arrive. At present, the criminal double tap or double bombing is also common. A missile falls on a civilian target, rescue teams arrive, and then the second one falls to maximize damage. This is a common practice in Russian aviation tactics.
The Trump Administration, acting for the first time as a proxy for the Russian regime, contributes to this for two reasons: first, by not extending the promised delivery of anti-aircraft ammunition by Biden. Second, by not selling a single anti-aircraft missile to Zelenski, who can purchase them thanks to Russian assets confiscated in Europe and delivered to Kiev. We are no longer talking about attack missiles or giving weapons for nothing in return. Washington is no longer even satisfied with selling defensive weapons to protect cities at market cost. The price is the lives of Ukrainian civilians.
Ukraine accurately targets Russian objectives: ammunition depots, oil refineries, military units, and military bases. Kiev attacked a drone factory in Kaluga. When Moscow launches its precision missiles, in many cases, it is to destroy homes, civilian facilities, playgrounds, and hospitals.
There are thousands of examples. On April 15, while Sumy residents buried their dead, like the renowned organist Olena Kohut, carrying yellow and blue flowers at the funerals, the Ukrainian army launched a retaliatory attack against the Russian 112th brigade base about 700 kilometers from the front. This unit is responsible for the attack in the city center that left 35 dead, all civilians, and over 120 injured. In the revenge bombing, several Ukrainian drones destroyed the facilities and buildings of the Russian brigade.
Putin has now gotten what he wanted: Trump has cut ties with Ukraine and will have his tower in Moscow, but about peace, we know nothing.