Russian strike kills dozens in Ukraine
The Sumy ballistic missile strike was Russia's deadliest attack on civilians this year
What happened
Russia struck the center of the Ukrainian city of Sumy with two ballistic missiles Sunday midmorning as crowds gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday. Ukrainian officials said at least 34 people were killed, including two children, and a further 117 were wounded, in Russia's deadliest attack on civilians this year.
Who said what
Sunday's attack and an April 4 strike on Kryvyi Rih that killed 19 people, including nine children, are "fueling further skepticism over any Russian intent to end the war as President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire," The Washington Post said. Civilian deaths have actually "increased since U.S.-mediated ceasefire talks began in March," The New York Times said.
"These attacks show just what Russia's supposed readiness for peace is worth," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on social media. French President Emmanuel Macron accused Moscow of a "blatant disregard for human lives, international law and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump." When asked about the strike, Trump called it a "horrible thing," adding:, "I was told they made a mistake."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff met with President Vladimir Putin in Russia on Friday "as impatience appears to be growing" in the White House over Putin's stalling and "reluctance to commit to a broad ceasefire," the Post said. "Everything is going very well" in the U.S.-Russian relationship, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Sunday, but "it is impossible to expect any instant results."
-
Alaa Abd el-Fattah: should Egyptian dissident be stripped of UK citizenship?Today's Big Question Resurfaced social media posts appear to show the democracy activist calling for the killing of Zionists and police
-
Biggest political break-ups and make-ups of 2025The Explainer From Trump and Musk to the UK and the EU, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a round-up of the year’s relationship drama
-
Why 2025 was a pivotal year for AITalking Point The ‘hype’ and ‘hopes’ around artificial intelligence are ‘like nothing the world has seen before’
-
All roads to Ukraine-Russia peace run through the DonbasIN THE SPOTLIGHT Volodymyr Zelenskyy is floating a major concession on one of the thorniest issues in the complex negotiations between Ukraine and Russia
-
Israel approves new West Bank settlementsSpeed Read The ‘Israeli onslaught has all but vanquished a free Palestinian existence in the West Bank’
-
Russia’s ‘weird’ campaign to boost its birth rateUnder the Radar Demographic crisis spurs lawmakers to take increasingly desperate measures
-
US offers Ukraine NATO-like security pact, with caveatsSpeed Read The Trump administration has offered Ukraine security guarantees similar to those it would receive from NATO
-
Hong Kong court convicts democracy advocate LaiSpeed Read Former Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was convicted in a landmark national security trial
-
Australia weighs new gun laws after antisemitic attackSpeed Read A father and son opened fire on Jewish families at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing at least 15
-
Europe sets 2027 deadline to wean itself from Russian gasIN THE SPOTLIGHT As negotiators attempt to end Russia’s yearslong Ukraine invasion, lawmakers across the EU agree to uncouple gas consumption from Moscow’s petrochemical infrastructure
-
Benin thwarts coup attemptSpeed Read President Patrice Talon condemned an attempted coup that was foiled by the West African country’s army
