Vladimir Putin has been accused of “mocking the goodwill” of Donald Trump by launching brutal strikes on Ukraine, even as he continues to insist that peace remains his ultimate aim.
The criticism follows Russia’s latest deadly assault on the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy, where two ballistic missiles hit a residential area over the weekend, killing 34 civilians and injuring more than 110. It marked the deadliest single strike on Ukraine this year.
Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s willingness to agree to a ceasefire last month in hopes of paving the way for a broader peace deal, Putin has not reciprocated.
Speaking in Luxembourg ahead of a European Union foreign ministers’ meeting, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said:
“Ukraine unconditionally agreed to a ceasefire over a month ago. The heinous attacks on Kryvyi Rih and now on Sumy are Russia’s mocking answer. I hope that President Trump and the US administration see that the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill and I hope the right decisions are taken.”
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 62 drones were launched by Russia overnight. While 40 were successfully shot down and another 11 failed to reach their targets, the fate of the remaining drones was unclear. Officials fear they may have caused further damage.
In addition to the Sumy strike, seven people were injured in a drone attack on the Black Sea port city of Odesa, which damaged homes and a medical facility. In Zaporizhzhia, a petrol station caught fire and several houses were destroyed in yet another drone-led assault.
These renewed attacks come just days after a strike on Kryvyi Rih—President Zelensky’s hometown—left 20 people dead, including nine children.
Speaking after the Sumy attack, Zelensky urged world leaders to take stronger action against Russia:
“Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs. What’s needed is an attitude toward Russia that a terrorist deserves.”
Donald Trump, who has claimed he can end the war if elected President again, responded to the reports while aboard Air Force One:
“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.”
Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, was more direct in his condemnation.
“There are scores of civilian dead and wounded. As a former military leader, I understand targeting, and this is wrong,” he said, adding that the Sumy strike “crossed any line of decency”.
The White House confirmed it remains committed to securing a peaceful resolution, but Kellogg noted that Russia’s continued aggression makes such a resolution difficult to envision.
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Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pushed back, claiming Moscow would submit a dossier of alleged Ukrainian attacks on Russian-held territory to the US, Turkey, and other international bodies.
In response, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Moscow of gross hypocrisy, stating that since mid-March—when Russia supposedly paused strikes on energy infrastructure—it had launched nearly 70 missiles, over 2,200 explosive drones, and more than 6,000 guided aerial bombs, primarily targeting civilians.
As the death toll climbs and pressure mounts on all parties, analysts warn that the situation is fast approaching a critical point. While Trump and his advisers continue to express a desire for de-escalation, many in Europe fear Putin’s actions reveal he is not seriously interested in peace.
With spring in full swing, military intelligence now suggests Russia may be preparing for a renewed offensive in the north and east of Ukraine—further straining any hopes of ceasefire talks and deepening international scepticism about the Kremlin’s true intentions.
