According to an Ukrinform correspondent, she said this responding to questions from journalists about President Donald Trump's reaction to the latest Russian missile strike on Kyiv and whether the White House views Russian leader Vladimir Putin as an obstacle to peace.
"I talked to him [Trump] about this. He was not happy about this news, but he was also not surprised," Leavitt said, noting that "these are two countries that have been at war for a very long time."
"Russia launched this attack on Kyiv. And likewise, Ukraine recently dealt a blow to Russia's oil refineries. They have taken out, as a matter of fact, 20% of Russia's oil refinery capacity over the course of their attacks throughout the month of August," she said.
Read also: General Staff confirms strikes on two refineries, ammunition depots, and several Russian logistics facilitiesLeavitt added that Trump is closely monitoring the situation:
"This killing, unfortunately, will continue as long as the war continues which is why the president wants it to end and that's why he's worked harder than anyone to end this war," she said, adding that the war "would have never started if he were president.
"Perhaps, both sides of this war are not ready to end it themselves. The president wants it to end, but the leaders of these two countries need it to end and want it to end. They must want it to end as well," she said.
Leavitt noted that Trump will make additional statements on the issue later.
In the early hours of August 28, the Russian army launched a combined missile and drone attack on Kyiv, causing a series of explosions. Significant destruction was recorded in the Shevchenkivskyi, Holosiivskyi, Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi, and Desnianskyi districts.
In Kyiv, the death toll from the attack has risen to 21 people.
