Russia's attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Tuesday, which left at least three people dead and many injured, was described as “brutal” by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A series of rocket strikes hit residential buildings and a medical facility in the center of the northeastern city, local authorities said, exactly one day after direct peace talks failed to resolve the three-year conflict.
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 said in his Telegram post.
“It is clear that without global 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 sides agreed to exchange the dead and wounded, but their demands for ending the conflict remained very different.
The conflict 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 line some 620 miles long, where the war continues despite U.S. efforts to broker peace talks.
Although Russia has a larger military and greater economic resources, the spectacular Ukrainian drone attack, which Ukrainian officials said damaged or destroyed more than 40 combat aircraft at air bases deep inside Russian territory, dealt a serious blow to the Kremlin's strategic reserves and its military credibility.
Both Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin have sought to demonstrate to US President Donald Trump that they share his desire to stop the fighting, thereby avoiding possible sanctions from Washington.
Ukraine accepted the US ceasefire proposal, but the Kremlin effectively rejected it. Mr Putin made clear that any peaceful resolution would have to be on his terms.
A high-ranking 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, according to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak.
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, chaired by Mr Putin, has made it clear that Russia has no intention of stopping its invasion of its neighbour.
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Sourse: breakingnews.ie
