There's a narrative, whether willfully naive or dishonest, on the Left stretching back before the fake Russia hoax that Donald Trump is either beholden to or friends with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which they attempt to prove by pointing to the president's negative statements aimed at Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelensky.

One such statement came out on Wednesday, with President Trump scolding Zelensky for recent comments taking a hardline on Ukraine getting back Crimea as a part of any truce in the Russia-Ukraine war, as we wrote.

That prompted a (mostly) diplomatic reply from the Ukrainian president just hours later.

RELATED: President Trump Trashes Volodymyr Zelensky on Crimea

Ukrainian President Zelensky Admits 'Emotions Have Run High Today' After Trump Tweet on Crimea

Overnight, Russia made what's being reported as the deadliest attack in months on Kyiv:

At least 12 people were killed and dozens more were injured in an overnight Russian attack on several districts and residential areas in Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday...

Trump called it out strongly in a post on his Truth Social account, demanding Putin put a stop to it for the sake of the peace process. He wrote:

I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!

When a reporter asked him later in the day whether he believes Putin will heed his statement, Pres. Trump said, "I do, yeah."

According to the ABC News report linked above, that wasn't all he had to say on where the negotiations process stands--with both Ukraine and Russia:

At the White House on Thursday, Trump said he has a "deadline" for negotiations to achieve a peace deal for the war in Ukraine and wants an agreement "fast."

"So we are thinking that very strongly that they both want peace, but they have to get to the table," he said. "We're waiting a long time. They have to get them to the table. And I think we're going to get peace."

Asked what concessions Russia has offered up to get closer to peace, Trump said, "Stopping the war. Stopping, taking the whole country. Pretty big concession."

Pres. Zelensky weighed in after the Russian strikes, too, complaining that the Trump administration isn't pressing Putin/Russia hard enough.

"We believe that with greater pressure on the Russian Federation, we will be able to bring our sides closer, if you like. Although we are close," he said.

Back to the far-left's narrative. Yeah, anyone who claims that no one in the Trump administration ever criticizes Putin or Russia the way they do Zelensky or Ukraine is dead wrong. The leftists can cherry-pick Pres. Trump's or VP Vance's comments all they like, but the reality is that the U.S. has been tough with both sides over time, in the hopes of getting the war ended.

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