U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (April 24) said significant progress had been made in Ukraine peace negotiations and that the Kremlin had made a "pretty big concession" by being open to "stopping the war, stopping taking the whole country."

Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least 12 people in the biggest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year and drawing a rare rebuke from Trump, who told Vladimir Putin: "Vladimir, STOP!, in a post on Truth Social.

Trump told reporters at the White House that his administration was applying "a lot of pressure" on Russia and reiterated his displeasure with the attack.

In first 100 days, Trump has alienated Ukraine and emboldened Russia

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the same Oval Office news conference that further discussions were planned for the weekend, and the U.S. wants to see both Ukraine and Russia step up to finalize a deal.

The Kyiv attack, which the U.S. president said was "not necessary" and "very bad timing" as he pushes for peace, also wounded 90 people, smashed buildings and set off fires, Ukrainian officials said. Rescuers were still recovering bodies from the rubble more than 12 hours later.

The attack came at a critical moment in Russia's war in Ukraine, which began with Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022, with both Kyiv and Moscow are trying to show Trump they are making progress towards his goal of a rapid peace deal.

(Production: Tom Rowe)