Ukraine-Russia battle newest: Zelensky urges Trump to witness Sumy assault horrors for himself as 34 lifeless
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.”
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.”
Russia’s attacks spark petrol station fire, injure several in Ukraine, officials say
Overnight attacks by Russia sparked a fire at a petrol station in Zaporizhzhia, injured at least eight people and damaged houses across the southeastern part of Ukraine, regional officials said this morning.
No one was injured in the petrol station fire that followed a drone attack on the region, Ivan Fedorov, the governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, said in a post on Telegram. He posted a photo of large flames consuming a structure at night.
The US in late March said it reached agreement with Russia and Ukraine on two ceasefire accords, including one that would ban strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of breaking the moratoriums.
It was not immediately clear whether the petrol station in Zaporizhzhia was a target of the attack or whether the fire was sparked by falling debris from a destroyed drone.
There was no comment from Russia, and Reuters could not independently verify the report.
EU foreign policy chief urges ‘maximum pressure’ on Russia over Ukraine war
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called on Monday for “maximum pressure” on Russia to end its war in Ukraine, a day after a missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy that killed 34 people, according to officials.
“I think we have to put the pressure, the maximum pressure, on Russia to really end this war, because it takes two to want peace,” Ms Kallas told reporters as she arrived at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
“All those who want the killing to stop should put the maximum pressure,” she said.
Trump bitterly attacks CBS programme after stories on Ukraine and Greenland
US president Donald Trump bitterly attacked 60 Minutes shortly after the CBS programme broadcast stories on Ukraine and Greenland.
He said the network was out of control and should “pay a big price” for going after him on Sunday.
“Almost every week, 60 Minutes … mentions the name ‘TRUMP’ in a derogatory and defamatory way, but this Weekend’s ‘BROADCAST’ tops them all,” the president said on his Truth Social platform.
He called on Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr to impose maximum fines and punishment “for their unlawful and illegal behaviour”.
The network had no immediate comment.
Scott Pelley travelled to Ukraine to conduct an interview with that country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, on the site of a Russian attack where nine children were killed earlier this month.
In the interview broadcast on Sunday, Mr Zelensky said he has “100 per cent” hatred for Russian president Vladimir Putin for the invasion of Ukraine, and invited Mr Trump to visit his country to see what has been done.
Also on Sunday, correspondent Jon Wertheim reported from Greenland on what some people in that nation are saying about Mr Trump’s desire to take control.
EU foreign ministers to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine at Luxembourg meet
European Union foreign ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia, the European Pravda reported.
“The European Union supports continued pressure on Russia, and therefore the 17th sanctions package and other means of pressure will be part of the conversation at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting,” an official told the outlet on the condition of anonymity.
While the agenda includes Ukraine’s EU accession talks, the “coalition of the willing” is also likely to discuss the initiative to deploy a monitoring mission in the war-torn country.
Ukrainian orchestra musician killed in Russian strike on Sumy
Orchestra musician Olen Kohut was among the 34 people killed in Russia’s deadly strike on Sumy.
Confirming her demise, Sumy National Theatre said on Facebook: “On April 13, 2025, as a result of a missile strike by Russia, our theater family suffered a pain that words cannot describe. Inflicted wounds killed our colleague, artist of the orchestra theater — Olena Kohut.”
A soloist-organist, “Elena was an extremely bright person, a true professional, a sympathetic colleague, and a reliable friend. Her music, her smile, her kindness — will forever be in our memories”, the theater added.
“This is an irreparable loss for our collective, for the entire music community, for everyone who knew and appreciated Olena as an artist and as a person,” the Sumy Oblast Philharmonic said.
Ukraine’s western allies accuse Russia of committing ‘war crime’
Germany’s incoming chancellor accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of committing a “war crime” in Ukraine after a missile attack on Sumy left 34 people dead.
The attack was “a deliberate and calculated war crime”, Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, said.
“There are two waves of attacks and the second arrived as emergency workers were taking care of the victims,” he said.
“That is the response, that is what Putin does to those who talk with him of a ceasefire.”
French president Emmanuel Macron called the Russian attack a “blatant disregard of human lives, international law, and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump”.
“Strong measures are needed to impose a ceasefire on Russia,” he said.
“France is working tirelessly toward this goal, alongside its partners.”
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen called the attack “barbaric”. “Russia was and remains the aggressor,” she said.
“Strong measures are urgently needed to enforce a ceasefire. Europe will continue to reach out to partners and maintain strong pressure on Russia until the bloodshed ends and a just and lasting peace is achieved, on Ukraine’s terms and conditions.”
British prime minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled at Russia’s horrific attacks on civilians in Sumy”.
Source: independent.co.uk
