Russian forces' attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Tuesday, which left at least four people dead and many wounded, was described as “brutal” by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Several rockets hit homes and a medical facility in the northeastern city centre a day after direct peace talks failed to end the three-year conflict, local authorities said.
Mr Zelensky said one of the missiles fired at Sumy pierced the wall of an apartment building but did not detonate.
“This is all you need to know about Russia’s ‘intentions’ to end this war,” Mr Zelensky wrote in his Telegram post.
“It is clear that without international pressure and decisive action from the US, Europe and all those who have influence, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will not agree even to a ceasefire.”
At talks in Istanbul on Monday, delegations from the warring countries agreed to exchange the dead and wounded. But their conditions for ending the war remained far from compromised.
The war has killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations, as well as tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides along a front stretching about 620 miles, where fighting continues despite U.S. efforts to broker peace talks.
Although Russia has more troops and economic resources than Ukraine, the spectacular Ukrainian drone attack, which Ukrainian officials say damaged or destroyed more than 40 combat aircraft at air bases deep inside Russia, has dealt a serious blow to the Kremlin's strategic arsenal and its military prestige.
Both Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin have sought to reassure US President Donald Trump that they share his desire to end the fighting, thereby avoiding possible sanctions from Washington.
Ukraine accepted the US-proposed ceasefire, but the Kremlin effectively rejected it. Mr Putin has made clear that any peace deal must be on his terms.
A high-profile Ukrainian delegation, led by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, has traveled to Washington to discuss defense, sanctions and post-war reconstruction, said Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
Mr Yermak added that the delegation would meet with representatives of both major US political parties, as well as with advisers to Mr Trump.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president who now serves as deputy head of the country's Security Council under Mr Putin, has made it clear that Russia has no intention of stopping its invasion of its neighbour.
“Negotiations are underway in Istanbul
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
