Ukraine’s President Zelensky has hit out at the Trump administration for its “weak” response to Russian ballistic missile strike that has killed at least 19, including nine children.
The strike hit the city of Kryvyi Rih, where President Zelensky is from, on Friday, landing near a playground where children as young as three were playing. Responding to the strike, the US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink did not condemn Russia. According to the Kyiv Independent, Russia attacked with a Iskander ballistic missile, which included cluster munitions.
Taking to X, Ambassador Brink said: “Horrified that tonight a ballistic missile struck near a playground and restaurant in Kryvyi Rih”. After noting the number of casualties, she reiterated the Trump administration’s position on then conflict, writing: “This is why the war must end.”
Firing back the US response to the bombing, President Zelensky said in a post on X: “Unfortunately, the reaction of the American Embassy is unpleasantly surprising: such a strong country, such a strong people – and such a weak reaction. They are even afraid to say the word “Russian” when talking about the missile that killed children.”
Addressing the ambassador’s message directly, he added: “Yes, the war must end. But to end it, we must not be afraid to call a spade a spade. We must not be afraid to put pressure on the only one who continues this war and ignores all the world’s proposals to end it.”
The war leader also paid tribute to the children and young people killed in the strike. Among the dead were a three-year-old, two seven-year-olds, a nine-year-old, three 15-year-olds, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old.
Prior to verbal attack on the American administration, the Ukrainian president had praised allies, including the UK. He wrote: “I am grateful for the principled position of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Austria.
“Thank you for the position and support of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. We appreciate the principled statement of the Embassies of Japan, Great Britain, Switzerland, and Germany.”
The Trump administration has not responded to President Zelensky’s criticism.
