US President Donald Trump has defended Russia’s “terrible” missile attack on Sumy as a “mistake”.
“I think it was terrible and I was told they made a mistake, but I think it's a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing,” he told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday evening.
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Trump to visit the country and see the devastation for himself.
Two Russian ballistic missiles struck the city of Sumy on Sunday, killing 34 people and wounding 117 in one of the deadliest strikes of the war.
A video posted on social media by the Ukrainian president showed bodies strewn in the middle of a city street near a destroyed bus and burnt-out cars.
Russia’s defence ministry later said that it hit a meeting of Ukrainian commanding officers in Sumy with two Iskander missiles, Russian news agencies reported.
On the diplomatic front, the European Union said it is working on the 17th package of Russian sanctions after the bloc’s foreign ministers met in Luxembourg on Monday.
Key points
- Ukraine say Trump's claim Sumy strike was 'mistake' is propaganda
- Russia contradicts Trump's defence of Sumy attack as 'mistake'
- Trump responds to Russian attack which killed 34
- Zelensky urges Trump to visit Ukraine to see war devastation
- EU working on 17th package of Russian sanctions
Zelensky urges Trump to visit Ukraine to see war devastation
16:35
,
Steffie Banatvala
Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Donald Trump to visit Ukraine to see the devastation from Vladimir Putin’s war.
“Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead,” he said in an interview with CBS News, addressing the US president.
Putin 'mocking' Trump after Sumy: Polish FM
16:20
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Steffie Banatvala
Poland’s foreign minister has said Putin was “mocking” US President Trump’s goodwill after Russia’s deadly attack on Sumy.
“Ukraine unconditionally agreed to a ceasefire over a month ago. The heinous attacks on Kryvyi Rih and on Sumy is Russia's mocking answer,” Radoslaw Sikorski said Monday, arrving at an EU meeting in Luxembourg.
“I hope that President Trump and the U.S. administration see that the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill and I hope the right decisions are taken.”
Teenager escapes burning bus in Sumy attack: local reports
16:05
,
Steffie Banatvala
A 13-year-old boy escaped a burning bus before helping others out after Russia’s attack on Sumy, local media reported.
Kyrylo Illiashenko and his mother were on a bus when it was hit and caught fire, according to Kordon Media.
The boy climed out through a shattered window as the doors were jammed, before pulling other surviors, the outlet reported.
Kyiv invites EU officials for May 9, countering Putin’s victory parade
15:50
,
Steffie Banatvala
Ukraine has invited top European officials to Kyiv on May 9 to counter Putin’s annual military parade in Moscow.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged EU foreign ministers to “show our unity and resolve in the face of the biggest aggression in Europe since the Second World War”.
Irish taoiseach condemns Sumy attack
15:35
,
Steffie Banatvala
Ireland’s taoiseach Micheál Martin has joined world leaders condemning Russia’s attack on Sumy.
I condemn the shocking and horrific missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy that killed dozens of civilians and injured hundreds more.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 13, 2025
Despite calls for a ceasefire, Russia continues its relentless and destructive war. The killing has to stop.
Trump says Ukraine is 'Biden's war', working to end it
15:25
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Steffie Banatvala
US President Donald Trump has said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “Biden’s war” and that he is working diligently to stop it.
“The War between Russia and Ukraine is Biden’s war, not mine. I just got here, and for four years during my term, had no problem in preventing it from happening,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“President Putin, and everyone else, respected your President! I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS WAR, BUT AM WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION TO STOP.”
Trump's claim Sumy strike was 'mistake' is propaganda: Ukraine
15:20
,
Steffie Banatvala
A senior Ukrainian MP has urged the FBI to investigate who is spreading Russian propaganda in the White House after President Trump called a deadly Russian missile strike a “mistake”.
Oleksandr Merezhko described Trump's statement about the attack on Sumy as “disturbing”.
“It’s like saying that 9/11 was just a ‘mistake’ by al-Qaeda,” the chairman of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee said.
“It a very disturbing statement by Trump which both encourages Putin to continue atrocities and demonstrates that someone in Trump’s entourage is pushing Russian narratives.”
Sumy attack in pictures: smoke rises after drone explosion
15:05
,
Steffie Banatvala
EU working on 17th package of Russia sanctions
14:51
,
Steffie Banatvala
European Union officials are working on a 17th package of sanctions against Russia for an EU foreign affairs meeting in May, the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.
“We are working on the 17th package... a shadow fleet and different elements,” Kallas said, without giving further details.
On defence, Kallas said they have already trained over 73,000 soldiers and are two-thirds of the way through an initiative to deliver 2 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine.
“A large majority of member states agreed that we need to do more,” Kallas said, adding that member states have already contributed more than €23 billion to Ukraine this year.
Russia claims Kyiv using civilians as 'human shields'
14:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
Russia's defence ministry has accused Kyiv of using civilians as human shields after claiming to have hit Ukrainian commanding officers in its Sumy attack.
It said Ukraine was using civilians as "human shields" by "holding events with the participation of military personnel" in the centre of densely populated cities.
While Ukraine reported that 34 people were killed, Russia said it had killed “more than 60” Ukrainian soldiers in the attack.
'Russia alone wants war': EU foreign policy chief
14:34
,
Steffie Banatvala
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said all the member states want peace and “Russia alone wants war”.
“It is clear that all the member states want peace,” Kallas said in a press conference after a meeting with the bloc’s foreign ministers in Luxembourg. “Yet we are seeing Russia alone wants war.”
Referencing the Sumy attack, Kallas added that it was clear that Russia was stalling on peace talks.
“The only way to get Russia to negotiate seriously is putting more pressure on Russia.”
Russia's attack on Sumy: re-capped
14:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
On Sunday two Russian ballistic missiles hit the small Ukrainian city of Sumy.
At least 34 people were killed and 117 were wounded, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the war.
The attack is the second large-scale attack to claim civilian lives in just over a week, following a deadly missile strike on Mr Zelensky's hometown of Kryvyi Rih on April 4 that killed some 20 people, including nine children.
It came just days after Donald Trump’s envoy met Putin for peace talks.
World leaders swiftly condemned the attack with some saying it undermined peace talks.
38 people still receiving medical treatment after Sumy attack: Zelensky
14:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
President Zelensky has said 38 people are still receiving medical treatment including nine children, in his latest update on the Sumy attack on X.
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
Australia condemns Russia's attack on Sumy
14:00
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese joined world leaders in condemning Russia’s attack on Sumy.
Australia condemns Russia’s horrific attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing and injuring civilians including children. This gross violation of international law was carried out as many Ukrainians gathered for Palm Sunday - one of the holiest days of the year for those of…
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 14, 2025
Hungary opposes EU military training mission in Ukraine
13:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
Hungary will not agree to the European Union's military training mission taking place in Ukraine because it risks escalating the war, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.
The country will also oppose sanctions on Russian energy imports, Szijjarto added in a press conference broadcast after a meeting with European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
Russia contradicts Trump's defence of Sumy attack as 'mistake'
13:23
,
Steffie Banatvala
Russia’s statement that it hit a Ukrainian officers’ meeting in Sumy contradicts Trump’s claim he had been told the attack was a “mistake”.
Russia's defence ministry reportedly said it hit a meeting of Ukrainian commanding officers in Sumy with two Iskander missiles after Trump defended the attack as a "mistake".
When pressed on Trump's comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said such comments were for the defence ministry, not the Kremlin.
“I can only repeat and remind you of the repeated statements of both our president and our military representatives that our military strikes exclusively at military and military-adjacent targets,” he said.
Kremlin says Russia only strikes military targets
13:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
The Kremlin has said that Russia only strikes military targets, after being asked on Monday about the attack on Sumy.
“I can only repeat and remind you of the repeated statements of both our president and our military representatives that our military strikes exclusively at military and military-adjacent targets,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Ukraine said on Sunday that two Russian ballistic missiles killed 34 people and wounded 117 in the city.
Kremlin says German Taurus missiles will escalate conflict
13:07
The Kremlin has criticised Germany's chancellor-in-waiting over his willingness to send Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine, saying it would only escalate the conflict.
Friedrich Merz said he was willing to send the missiles if it was jointly agreed with allies, many of who have already sent cruise missiles.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the similar approach taken by other European countries was derailing peace talks.
Several European leaders have accused Russia of stalling on a ceasefire and not being serious about ending the war.
Russia says it hit Ukrainian officers' meeting in Sumy
12:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
Russia said that it hit a meeting of Ukrainian commanding officers in Sumy with two Iskander missiles, Russian news agencies reported.
Ukraine said on Sunday that two Russian ballistic missiles killed 34 people and wounded 117 in the city of Sumy.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg after deadly Sumy attack
12:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
EU foreign ministers have been meeting in Luxembourg this morning to discuss key challenges for the bloc, with security for Ukraine and potential Russian sanctions heading the agenda.
The bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for “maximum pressure” on Russia to end the war.
“I think we have to put the pressure, the maximum pressure, on Russia to really end this war, because it takes two to want peace,” Kallas told reporters on arrival.
Russia's attack on Sumy: re-capped
12:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
On Sunday two Russian ballistic missiles hit the small Ukrainian city of Sumy.
At least 34 people were killed and 117 were wounded, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the war.
The attack is the second large-scale attack to claim civilian lives in just over a week, following a deadly missile strike on Mr Zelensky's hometown of Kryvyi Rih on April 4 that killed some 20 people, including nine children.
It came just days after Donald Trump’s envoy met Putin for peace talks.
World leaders swiftly condemned the attack with some saying it undermined peace talks.
Rescuers attend site of Russian shelling in Odesa
11:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
Ukrainian rescuers were working at the site of a drone attack on a storage building in Odesa, which injured at least seven people, according to a State Emergency Service report.
Civil infrastructure facilities, a medical facility, cars, a warehouse, and a service station were damaged during the shelling.
Putin 'mocking' Trump after Sumy: Polish FM
11:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Poland’s foreign minister has said Putin was “mocking” US President Trump’s goodwill after Russia’s deadly attack on Sumy.
“Ukraine unconditionally agreed to a ceasefire over a month ago. The heinous attacks on Kryvyi Rih and on Sumy is Russia's mocking answer,” Radoslaw Sikorski said Monday, arrving at an EU meeting in Luxembourg.
“I hope that President Trump and the U.S. administration see that the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill and I hope the right decisions are taken.”
Germany willing to send missiles to Ukraine
11:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
Germany is ready to send Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine, the country’s incoming chancellor has said after Russia’s deadly attack on Sumy.
Friedrich Merz said he would answer Ukraine’s repeated requests for Germany’s long-range missiles, if it was jointly agreed with allies.
“Our European partners are already supplying cruise missiles,” he said on Sunday. “The British are doing it, the French are doing it, and the Americans are doing it anyway.”
“This must be jointly agreed. And if it’s agreed, then Germany should take part.”
Zelensky thanks world leaders for support after Sumy attack
11:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Today, many world leaders, diplomats, and ordinary people with big hearts expressed their condolences to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. They condemned the Russian strike. I thank everyone who remembers that wars end when the crimes of war are not forgotten — and when the… pic.twitter.com/uFmfU6j5cU
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 13, 2025
Russia accuses Ukraine of eight attacks on energy infrastructure in 24 hours
10:56
,
Steffie Banatvala
Russia's defence ministry has said Ukraine carried out eight attacks on Russian energy infrastructure over the past 24 hours, according to RIA news agency.
The Independent could not independently verify the ministry’s claims.
In a US-led moratorium last month, Ukraine and Russia agreed to pause strikes on energy facilities - which both countries have accused each other of breaking.
Teenager escapes burning bus in Sumy attack: local reports
10:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
A 13-year-old boy escaped a burning bus before helping others out after Russia’s attack on Sumy, local media reported.
Kyrylo Illiashenko and his mother were on a bus when it was hit and caught fire, according to Kordon Media.
The boy climed out through a shattered window as the doors were jammed, before pulling other surviors, the outlet reported.
Sumy attack "horrifying": US Secretary of State
10:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called Russia’s attack on Sumu “horrifying”.
The attack offers “a tragic reminder” of why Trump’s administration is trying to end the war through “a just and durable peace”, Rubio said.
US envoy says Sumy attack crossed "line of decency"
10:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
The United States’ special envoy to Ukraine has said the attack in Sumy crossed “any line of decency” and that the White House remains committed to ending the war.
“There are scores of civilian dead and wounded. As a former military leader, I understand targeting, and this is wrong,” Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg said.
The attack came days after Lt. Gen. Kellogg met with Putin for Washington-led peace talks.
Pictures: Rescuers work following Russia's attacks
10:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
World leaders swiftly condemn Russia's attack on Sumy
09:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
World leaders condemned Russia's deadly attack on Sumy.
French President Emmanuel Macron said it undermines peace talks.
“Everyone knows: This war was initiated by Russia alone, and today it is clear that Russia alone chooses to continue it - with blatant disregard for human lives, international law and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump.”
Prime minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the attack, calling it “a stark reminder of the continued bloodshed perpetrated by Vladimir Putin”.
European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen said it was “barbaric” and “even more vile as people gathered peacefully to celebrate Palm Sunday”.
Pictures: Ukrainian police evacuate frontline town amid attacks
09:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
The White Angel unit of Ukrainian police officers evacuate people from frontline towns and villages, amid Russia’s attack on the country.
Russia's attack on Sumy: re-capped
09:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
On Sunday two Russian ballistic missiles hit the small Ukrainian city of Sumy.
At least 34 people were killed and 117 were wounded, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the war.
The attack is the second large-scale attack to claim civilian lives in just over a week, following a deadly missile strike on Mr Zelensky's hometown of Kryvyi Rih on April 4 that killed some 20 people, including nine children.
It came just days after Donald Trump’s envoy met Putin for peace talks.
World leaders swiftly condemned the attack with some saying it undermined peace talks.
Trump says Russian attack was 'mistake'
08:54
,
Steffie Banatvala
US President Donald Trump said Russia’s missiles strikes could have been “a mistake”.
“I think it was terrible and I was told they made a mistake, but I think it's a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing,” he told reporters on Air Force One.
Ukrainian police evacuate frontline residents
08:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
The White Angel unit of Ukrainian police officers evacuate people from frontline towns and villages, amid Russia’s attack on the country.
In pictures: aftermath of Sumy attack
08:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
Ukraine says Russia launched 62 drones overnight
08:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 62 drones in an overnight attack.
The air force said it shot 40 drones down and another 11 did not make it to their targets - likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures.
It did not provide details on the remaining 11 drones.
EU foreign policy chief urges 'maximum pressure' on Russia over Ukraine war
07:37
,
Namita Singh
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called on Monday for "maximum pressure" on Russia to end its war in Ukraine, a day after a missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy that killed 34 people, according to officials.
"I think we have to put the pressure, the maximum pressure, on Russia to really end this war, because it takes two to want peace," Ms Kallas told reporters as she arrived at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
"All those who want the killing to stop should put the maximum pressure," she said.