US President Donald Trump has said Russia’s “terrible” missile attack on Sumy was a “mistake”.
Two Russian ballistic missiles struck the city of Sumy on Sunday, killing 34 people and wounding 117 in one of the deadliest strikes of the war.
“I think it was terrible and I was told they made a mistake, but I think it’s a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing,” he told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday evening.
It comes after Volodymyr Zelensky urged Trump to visit Ukraine and see the devastation caused by the war himself. Mr Zelensky has demanded a tough international response to the Sumy attack, which came as Mr Trump rapidly pushed to end the conflict.
EU foreign ministers were expected to meet in Luxembourg this morning to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia. A video posted on social media by the Ukrainian president showed bodies strewn in the middle of a city street near a destroyed bus and burnt-out cars.
“Only scoundrels can act like this, taking the lives of ordinary people,” he said, noting the attack had come on Palm Sunday when some people were going to church.
Asking Mr Trump to see the destruction for himself, Mr Zelensky said in an interview with CBS: “Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead.”
US envoy says Sumy attack crossed “line of decency”
The United States’ special envoy to Ukraine has said the attack in Sumy crossed “any line of decency” and that the White House remains committed to ending the war.
“There are scores of civilian dead and wounded. As a former military leader, I understand targeting, and this is wrong,” Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg said.
The attack came days after Lt. Gen. Kellogg met with Putin for Washington-led peace talks.
Pictures: Rescuers work following Russia’s attacks
World leaders swiftly condemn Russia’s attack on Sumy
French President Emmanuel Macron said it undermines peace talks.
“Everyone knows: This war was initiated by Russia alone, and today it is clear that Russia alone chooses to continue it – with blatant disregard for human lives, international law and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump.”
Prime minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the attack, calling it “a stark reminder of the continued bloodshed perpetrated by Vladimir Putin”.
European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen said it was “barbaric” and “even more vile as people gathered peacefully to celebrate Palm Sunday”.
Pictures: Ukrainian police evacuate frontline town amid attacks
The White Angel unit of Ukrainian police officers evacuate people from frontline towns and villages, amid Russia’s attack on the country.
Russia’s attack on Sumy: re-capped
On Sunday two Russian ballistic missiles hit the small Ukrainian city of Sumy.
At least 34 people were killed and 117 were wounded, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the war.
The attack is the second large-scale attack to claim civilian lives in just over a week, following a deadly missile strike on Mr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih on April 4 that killed some 20 people, including nine children.
It came just days after Donald Trump’s envoy met Putin for peace talks.
World leaders swiftly condemned the attack with some saying it undermined peace talks.
Trump says Russian attack was ‘mistake’
US President Donald Trump said Russia’s missiles strikes could have been “a mistake”.
“I think it was terrible and I was told they made a mistake, but I think it’s a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing,” he told reporters on Air Force One.
Ukrainian police evacuate frontline residents
The White Angel unit of Ukrainian police officers evacuate people from frontline towns and villages, amid Russia’s attack on the country.
In pictures: aftermath of Sumy attack
Ukraine says Russia launched 62 drones overnight
The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 62 drones in an overnight attack.
The air force said it shot 40 drones down and another 11 did not make it to their targets – likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures.
It did not provide details on the remaining 11 drones.
Putin is ‘mocking’ Trump’s goodwill with Ukraine attacks, Poland says
Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said he hopes US president Donald Trump and his administration would see that Vladimir Putin was “mocking their goodwill” following Moscow’s deadly missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
“Ukraine unconditionally agreed to a ceasefire over a month ago. The heinous attacks on Kryvyi Rih and on Sumy is Russia’s mocking answer,” Mr Sikorski said this morning on arrival at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
“I hope that President Trump and the US administration see that the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill and I hope the right decisions are taken.”
Source: independent.co.uk