Trump Condemns Russia’s Overnight Bombardment of Ukraine as ‘Terrible’

Ambassador Dan Fried tells Kyiv Post Russia’s massive overnight strike shows Moscow is terrorizing civilians because it has failed to break Ukraine’s resilience on the battlefield. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before departing the White House in Washington on April 16, 2026. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Asked about the massive overnight Russian bombardment of Ukraine by RFE/RL reporter Alex Raufoglu, President Trump condemned the attack as “terrible.” More than 700 drones and missiles were launched in multiple waves at cities across the country, killing at least 18 people in what local officials described as the deadliest attack in months. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Officials said nine people were killed in the southern port city of Odesa, five in the central city of Dnipro, and four – including a child – in the capital, Kyiv. Asked whether the war had the potential to drag on for years, Trump said he believed a deal could still be reached. “Well, possibly, but I think a deal could be reached – possibly,” he said. “It would be foolish not to. I mean, if we’re close to a deal to end it, yes, I would do that. But we’re close to a deal.” Trump also reiterated that the war would not have started if he had been in office. Former US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Dan Fried told Kyiv Post that the strikes showed Russia was trying to terrorize civilians because it could not break Ukrainian resilience. “They are choosing this tactic because they have been unsuccessful on the ground, on the battlefield. They have not seized Ukrainian territory,” Fried said. “They are also unable to mount effective strategic attacks on Ukrainian military targets. The Ukrainians, by contrast, have been rather successful in going after Russian strategic targets, including, of course, famously, the Baltic ports. So the Russians are not winning the war, and they are killing civilians and trying to terrorize Ukraine.” Other Topics of Interest New Mass Strikes, Old Sanctions, and Space Nukes – Ukraine Latest, April 16 More defense loans, new strikes on Tuapses refinery, and updates on logistics routes around Donetsk – updates from Ukraine and beyond To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter Contact Us Please leave your suggestions or corrections here Cancel Send Sevinj Osmanqizi Sevinj Osmanqizi is a journalist covering US foreign policy, security, and geopolitics, with a focus on the broader post-Soviet space. She reports on Washington’s decision-making and its implications for Ukraine and regional stability.