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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has extended a personal invitation to Donald Trump to visit Ukraine before pursuing any agreements with Russia to end the ongoing conflict.
In a recent interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, Zelensky urged the former U.S. president to witness firsthand the suffering caused by the war. “Before making any decisions or engaging in negotiations, come and see the people—civilians, soldiers, hospitals, churches, and the children who have been injured or killed,” he stated.
The interview was filmed before a catastrophic Russian missile strike on the city of Sumy on Sunday, which claimed the lives of 34 people—including two children—and left 117 injured.
Trump called the attack a “horrible thing,” while Germany’s expected next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, went further by accusing Russia of committing a war crime.
Russia has not issued an official response to the Sumy attack. Reports indicate that Russian forces near the border are preparing for a potential large-scale offensive.
The missile strike occurred as U.S. efforts—under Trump’s influence—aimed to negotiate an end to the war, which has entered its fourth year.
President Trump referred to the attack as “terrible” and mentioned being told that “a mistake was made,” though he provided no further details.
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, described the attack as having crossed “any line of decency.”
Germany’s Friedrich Merz told ARD, a public broadcaster, that the Sumy strike was a “deliberate and perfidious” war crime. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz also condemned the attack, stating it demonstrated “how little Russia’s claims of wanting peace are worth.”
French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Russia’s “disregard for human life, international law, and President Trump’s diplomatic efforts.” He called for “strong measures” to enforce a ceasefire, affirming that France would continue working with its allies toward this goal.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the attack “barbaric,” reiterating that Russia is the clear aggressor and remains in violation of international law. She stressed the need for urgent action to achieve a ceasefire, insisting that peace must be reached on Ukraine’s terms.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the missile strike on Sumy’s civilians, while a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed shock and deep concern. Guterres emphasized that attacking civilians or civilian infrastructure is a violation of international humanitarian law and called for such actions to cease immediately.
He also reiterated the UN's commitment to supporting efforts for a “just, comprehensive, and lasting peace,” one that fully respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Sunday’s dual missile strike marks the deadliest civilian attack in Ukraine this year. Earlier this month, a Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih killed 20 people and injured 61. Russia claimed it had targeted a meeting of Ukrainian commanders and Western advisers at a restaurant—though it provided no evidence.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, hundreds of thousands—primarily soldiers—have been killed or wounded. The UN estimates that nearly seven million Ukrainians are currently displaced as refugees.
The roots of the conflict trace back to 2014, when Ukraine's pro-Russian president was ousted, prompting Russia to annex Crimea and support separatists in eastern Ukraine.
