After a Russian missile strike wounded dozens of people in Smie city, Russia must stop the attack, not “issuing a blank statement about peace,” the Ukrainian foreign minister said.
“Diplomacy with Moscow must be supported by firepower, sanctions and pressure,” Andry Sibiha said.
The attack, which claims to have targeted Ukraine’s targeted civil infrastructure, came when we and Russian negotiators met in Riyadh for a meeting aimed at suspending aspects of the war.
The top of the agenda is reportedly a revival of grain trade in 2022, allowing Kiev to export the Black Sea without Russian attacks. In return, Moscow is said to be seeking relief from Western sanctions, allowing it to export fertilizer.
Russia has stopped safe passage of cargo ships in and out of Ukraine in the summer of 2023.
The Ukrainian delegation is also located in the Saudi Arabia capital. He stayed there after meeting his American counterpart on a Sunday evening.
Kiev described the speech as “productive and focused,” and US President Donald Trump’s special envoy said separate debates with Ukraine and Russian teams would bring “real progress” to end the war.
Both Russia and Ukraine are in the fight despite ongoing talks that are trying to stop hostilities across the vast frontline.
Ukrainian officials say 65 people, including 14 children, were injured in the attack on the northern city on Monday.
The strike targeted children’s facilities and hospitals, according to Sumy’s community chief.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Dennis Schmichal said the attacks showed Russia “again, it shows that they want to continue their fears again.”
“The international community must raise pressure on Russia to stop the aggression, ensure justice and save the lives of Ukrainians,” he wrote in X.
Sumy borders the Kursk region of Russia. Some of it has been occupied by Ukrainian forces to strengthen Kiev’s hands in negotiations, although forced in recent weeks.
Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of not being upset with the deal against last week’s 30-day ceasefire.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has said that the Russian Ministry of Defense has launched a drone attack on the Kropotkinskaya oil pump station in Krasnodar, southern Russia. According to Russian national media, local time (23:00 GMT on Sunday)
The Ministry of Defense said it shot down 227 Ukrainian drones overnight in several parts of Russia.
Meanwhile, the Russian air attack injured a 37-year-old man in the Kiev region of Ukraine, according to local governments.
Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
The current negotiations mediated by the US are part of Trump’s plans to ensure a wider ceasefire in Ukraine.
His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said in an interview with Fox News that he hopes that real progress will be made during the consultation.
After a meeting with Kiev and Washington on Sunday evening, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the talks are working to ensure “fair and lasting peace” between Ukraine and Europe.
“The discussion was productive and concentrated – we worked on key points, including energy,” he said in a post in X.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said ahead of Monday’s meeting “there are difficult negotiations ahead.”
“We’re just at the beginning of this road,” he told television in the Russian province.
