Trump ‘not happy’ but unsurprised by Russian strike on Ukraine: White House
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Overnight attacks on Ukraine by Russia killed at least 18 people.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- Trump "was not happy" about recent Russian attacks on Ukraine and plans to address the situation further, according to Karoline Leavitt.
- Despite Trump's attempts to negotiate a ceasefire after meeting Putin, "perhaps both sides of this war are not ready to end it themselves."
- US envoy Steve Witkoff plans to meet Ukrainian representatives in New York this week, but a Trump-proposed three-way meeting is unlikely.
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WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump “was not happy” about Russian attacks on Ukraine with missiles and drones on Aug 28 and planned to talk more about the subject later, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Since Mr Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska nearly two weeks ago, little progress has been made towards a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine despite Mr Trump’s attempts to negotiate a halt in the fighting.
Overnight attacks on Ukraine by Russia
“He was not happy about this news, but he was also not surprised. These are two countries that have been at war for a very long time,” Ms Leavitt said of Mr Trump.
She told reporters that Mr Trump will make an additional statement on the situation later on Aug 28.
Ms Leavitt said the Russian attacks had been deadly and that Ukrainian attacks had done significant damage in August to Russian oil refineries.
She said Mr Trump wants the war to end but that “perhaps both sides of this war are not ready to end it themselves.”
US special envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News’ Special Report With Bret Baier on Aug 26 that he plans to meet Ukrainian representatives this week in New York.
The meeting is expected to take place on Aug 29.
Mr Trump has been pushing for Mr Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet and then he would join them for a three-way meeting to discuss ending the war.
But no such Putin-Zelensky meeting is forthcoming as of yet.
Mr Trump, asked on Aug 25 why Mr Putin is reluctant to meet Mr Zelensky, said Mr Putin simply does not like him. REUTERS
