US President Donald Trump again displayed anger with Russia following its latest deadly attack on Kyiv -- a strike that killed 31 people, including five children -- calling the action “disgusting” and vowing to slap new sanctions on Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a social media post on August 1 that rescue operations after the "vile attack" had now ended, with 159 others injured. Among the dead, he added, was a two-year-old.
"Once again, this vile strike by Russia demonstrates the need for increased pressure on Moscow and additional sanctions. No matter how much the Kremlin denies their effectiveness, sanctions do work – and they must be strengthened," he wrote.
Speaking earlier at the White House, Trump said the United States plans to impose new sanctions on Moscow, without being specific.
But he added that “I don’t know that sanctions bother him,” referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Western nations have imposed a long series of financial measures against Russia, causing the economy to crater as they seek to deny the funding needed to finance the Kremlin's war.
“Russia, I think it’s disgusting what they’re doing,” Trump told reporters.
“I think what Russia’s doing is very sad. A lot of Russians are dying.”
The US president said his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, would travel to Moscow following a trip to Israel, where he is discussing the situation in Gaza with Israeli officials. He did not provide an itinerary for Witkoff's Moscow stop.
"He's going to Russia. Believe it or not," Trump told reporters.
The remarks come hours after Zelenskyy called for “regime change” in the Kremlin, saying it was the only way to prevent Russia from attempting to "destabilize" the region in the future.
Speaking remotely to an event marking 50 years since the signing of the Cold War-era Helsinki Final Act, Zelenskyy on July 31 said he believed it was still possible for Western allies to "push" Russia to stop its war on Ukraine.
"But if the world doesn't aim to change the regime in Russia, that means even after the war ends, Moscow will still try to destabilize neighboring countries," Zelenskyy said.
"Today, we clearly know what is needed to bring peace back to Europe, to force Russia into peace, to end this war," he said later during his nightly video address.
"There will be new sanctions against Russia and new strong steps in support of Ukraine. I thank everyone around the world who is helping," he added.
Meanwhile, at the United Nations, senior US diplomat John Kelley told the Security Council on July 31 that Trump is adamant about an announced August 8 deadline for a cease-fire deal to be reached in Ukraine.
"Both Russia and Ukraine must negotiate a cease-fire and durable peace. It is time to make a deal. President Trump has made clear this must be done by August 8," he said.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to discuss the situation in Ukraine later on August 1.
Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that, after waiting through six months of diplomacy, Trump will soon be forced to decide how actively to continue his efforts toward a cease-fire if one side refuses to accept a truce.
Rubio said US and Russian officials had conducted private negotiations on the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine but that Washington saw “no progress” in the talks.
Trump, who has said he was "very disappointed" with Putin for refusing to end the war, announced on July 29 that he would shorten his previously announced 50-day deadline for the Russian leader to reach a cease-fire deal to “10-12 days.”
Trump had said the United States would slap new tariffs on Russia should it refuse to accept a cease-fire. Zelenskyy has said he is ready to accept such a truce and has suggested a direct meeting with Putin -- which the Kremlin has rejected.
Putin hasn't commented publicly on the new deadline, but on August 1 said he hoped peace talks can continue and make progress.
However, he again showed little room for compromise, reiterating that Moscow's goals remain the same.
Though Putin did not list the goals, Russia has put forth several conditions for peace on numerous occasions that Kyiv says are unacceptable.
Among them: Ukraine ceding five regions that Moscow claims as its own, including the parts that its forces do not occupy; permanent neutrality for Ukraine; and strict limits on the size of its military.
As progress toward a cease-fire appears stalled, the violence and killing continued among the civilian population in Ukraine.
Following the July 30-31 attacks on Kyiv, authorities on August 1 said that at least 11 people were injured in a massive Russian drone attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Officials said the drones hit near a residential building.
Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, said on August 1 that during conversations with British, French, German, and Italian officials, Kyiv had received "positive signals" on the White House ratcheting up pressure on Moscow.
"The partners confirmed the presence of positive signals from the White House regarding decisive action against the Russian Federation, in particular, regarding sanctions on Russian oil and secondary duties after the expiration of the 10-day deadline set by President Donald Trump," Yermak wrote on Telegram.
Zelenskyy on August 1 spoke by phone with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to the U.K. government. The two agreed that “it was clear Russia was the only barrier to peace,” an official summary of the conversation said.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, described the Russian attacks on August 1 as "depraved."
"More weapons for Ukraine and tougher sanctions on Russia are the fastest way to end the war. Getting more air defenses to Ukraine fast is our priority," she said in a social media post that included a picture of the bloc's flag at half-mast.
