Kyiv has urged the Kremlin to halt its war against the Ukrainian people as ceasefire negotiations continue in Riyadh. On Monday, Russia launched an airstrike on a children’s hospital while its representatives engaged in discussions with a US delegation about potential steps toward de-escalation.
At least 17 children were among the 88 injured in a missile strike on a residential area in Sumy, coinciding with the second round of US-led ceasefire talks in Riyadh.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned Russia’s actions, stating that instead of issuing "hollow statements about peace," Moscow must "stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians."
The Riyadh discussions were not centered on a comprehensive ceasefire but rather on specific agreements, including suspending attacks on energy infrastructure and ensuring safe maritime passage in the Black Sea. Meanwhile, hours before the US delegation met with Russian negotiators, Ukraine destroyed four Russian helicopters using US-made HIMARS missiles in a strike facilitated by US intelligence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has set the cessation of Western arms and intelligence support to Kyiv as a condition for a 30-day ceasefire. Former US President Donald Trump halted military aid in February to pressure Ukraine into negotiations, but supplies have since resumed. Russia’s delegation in Riyadh was led by senior diplomat Grigory Karasin and Sergey Beseda, an adviser to the head of the FSB security service, while lower-level US officials participated in what was anticipated to be a largely technical phase of the talks.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned that the negotiations marked "only the beginning of the path" and later confirmed that Putin was being kept informed of developments.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s delegation, headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, met bilaterally with US officials. More discussions were expected to follow Monday’s separate Russian talks. Presidential adviser Serhii Leshchenko tempered expectations, stating, "Negotiations are usually not concluded in a single day; they sometimes take months."
In Sumy, video footage captured black smoke billowing from an apartment building struck in the missile attack. Debris was scattered across the pavement as residents attempted to flee. One woman was seen carrying a baby to safety while firefighters battled the flames. "It was very loud, houses were shaking, windows were flying out," aid worker Liza Sherstyuk, a Sumy resident, told The Telegraph, adding that her colleagues on the scene were "very scared."
As talks progressed on Monday, Ukraine’s national railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, reported a large-scale cyberattack, marking the second consecutive day of disruptions. The state-owned company, which links Ukraine to Europe and plays a crucial role in military logistics, said it was actively countering the sophisticated assault.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky risked reigniting tensions with Donald Trump by reiterating his concerns that the White House was susceptible to Russian disinformation. In an interview with Time magazine, Zelensky accused Russia of influencing certain members of Trump’s team, leading them to believe Ukraine was unwilling to end the war.
"The signal sent to the Americans was that Ukrainians do not want to end the war, and something should be done to force them," Zelensky stated.
Reflecting on his heated exchange with Trump in the Oval Office last month, Zelensky said he felt compelled to "defend the dignity" of Ukraine. "In that moment, there was the sense of not being allies or not taking the position of an ally," he explained.
Time magazine also revealed that during their meeting in Washington, Zelensky intended to present Trump with the championship belt of Oleksandr Usyk, Ukraine’s heavyweight boxing champion. However, he instead prioritized showing photographs of released prisoners of war, shifting the mood of the discussion.
In response, Trump asserted that the only Russian influence on his administration was "to see [the war] settled." He also announced plans to sign a minerals deal with Ukraine, providing the US with an economic incentive to support the country’s stability.
Sources told the Moscow Times that Putin hopes Washington will pressure Ukraine into relinquishing claims to the occupied territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. The Russian leader reportedly believes that prolonging negotiations will work to Moscow’s advantage.
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