Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has openly criticized the US Embassy in Ukraine for what he described as a “weak” and evasive response to a recent missile attack that killed 18 people, including nine children, in his hometown of Kryvyi Rih.
The criticism came as US President Donald Trump pushed for a partial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine while seeking a thaw in ties with Moscow.
The strike, which occurred Friday evening, involved a Russian ballistic missile that hit a residential area, injuring 62 people in addition to the fatalities.
Writing on social media Zelensky said that the “reaction of the US Embassy is unpleasantly surprising”.
“Such a strong country, such a strong people — and such a weak reaction,” Zelensky said.
“They are even afraid to say the word ‘Russian’ when talking about the missile that killed the children.”
US Ambassador Bridget Brink posted on Friday evening when there was not a complete toll: “Horrified that tonight a ballistic missile struck near a playground and restaurant in (Kryvyi Rig). More than 50 people injured and 16 killed, including 6 children. This is why the war must end.”
Numerous comments under the post criticised Brink for not saying that Russia launched the attack.
Brink was appointed by Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden and has been ambassador since May 2022.
In recent posts on X she has not directly named Russia while referring to attacks on Ukraine, which she did regularly until mid-February, when Zelensky and Trump had an angry exchange in the Oval Office.
AFP
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