Ahead of any deal with Russia to end the war, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited United States President Donald Trump to visit his country and see the destruction.
"Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead," said Zelenskyy in an interview with CBS.
The latest Russian attack on the city of Sumy has killed 34 people and injured 117 others. The US has condemned the attack and said that Russia ‘made a mistake’.
Of late, the US has been strengthening its efforts to broker a peace deal between both countries to end the war. Trump has urged both nation leaders to sit together and work out a peace deal.
On asked about the recent attack, Trump said it was "terrible" and that he had been "told they made a mistake".
Currently, 38 people are receiving treatment in medical facilities in Sumy following yesterday’s Russian ballistic strike — among them, 9 children. 11 people, including 3 children, are in critical condition. Every effort is being made to provide them with maximum assistance.… pic.twitter.com/fRDV0mVepN
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 14, 2025
Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lt-Gen Keith Kellogg said that the attack crossed "any line of decency".
Despite Russia saying that they would be targeting only the military, the Ukrainian president highlighted that the Kremlin continued its attacks on civilians.
As part of the peace deal efforts, US special envoy Steve Witkoff already held three meetings with Vladimir Putin and Kyiv.
In the wake of the Sumy attack, French President Emmanuel Macron accused Russia of "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."
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the attack as "barbaric".
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," she said.
Another Russian missile attack on April 4 killed 20 people and injured 61 in the city of Kryvyi Rih. According to the UN, nearly seven million Ukrainians are currently living as refugees.
