Zelensky urges Trump to visit Ukraine ahead of deal with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has extended an invitation to former President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine before any negotiations or agreements with Russia regarding the ongoing war. In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Zelensky urged, “Please, before any decisions or forms of negotiations, come to see the people, the civilians, the warriors, the hospitals, churches, and the children who have been destroyed or killed.”

This interview was recorded prior to a devastating Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, which occurred on Sunday, killing 34 people—including two children—and injuring 117 others.

Trump described the attack as a “horrible thing,” while Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting, Friedrich Merz, condemned Russia for committing a war crime.

There was no immediate official response from Russia regarding the attack, although reports suggest that Russian forces, positioned near the border, are preparing for a significant offensive.

The attack comes as the United States, Ukraine’s strongest military ally, has been pushing for negotiations to end the ongoing war, now in its fourth year, under the leadership of former President Trump.

When asked about the attack, Trump referred to it as “terrible,” adding that he had been “told they made a mistake,” but provided no further details.

Earlier, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lt-Gen Keith Kellogg, condemned the attack, stating that it had crossed “any line of decency.”

Friedrich Merz, who is set to become Germany’s new chancellor next month, told German public broadcaster ARD that the assault on Sumy amounted to a “serious war crime.” The conservative politician called it a “perfidious act” and described it as “deliberate and intended.”

Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz also weighed in, emphasizing that the attack demonstrated “just what Russia’s supposed readiness for peace [was] worth.”

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Russia for its “blatant disregard for human lives, international law, and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump.” He asserted that “strong measures are needed to impose a ceasefire on Russia,” adding that France would continue to work alongside its partners toward this objective.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the attack as “barbaric,” reiterating that “Russia was and remains the aggressor, in blatant violation of international law.” She stressed the need for “strong measures” to enforce a ceasefire, with Europe committed to applying pressure on Russia until the violence ends and a fair, lasting peace is achieved based on Ukraine’s terms.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also expressed his outrage, stating that he was “appalled at Russia’s horrific attacks on civilians in Sumy.”

A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed being “deeply alarmed and shocked” upon learning of the missile attack. He emphasized that “attacks against civilians and civilian objects are prohibited under international humanitarian law,” and called for an immediate end to such attacks, wherever they occur.

Guterres also reiterated the UN’s commitment to supporting “meaningful efforts towards a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace that fully upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”

Sunday’s dual missile strike marked the deadliest attack on civilians in Ukraine this year. Earlier, on April 4, another Russian missile attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih killed 20 people and injured 61. In that instance, Russia’s defense ministry claimed it had targeted a meeting of “unit commanders and Western instructors” in a restaurant, though no evidence was provided.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, hundreds of thousands of people—mostly soldiers—have been killed or injured on both sides. The UN also estimates that nearly seven million Ukrainians are currently living as refugees.

The conflict dates back over a decade, beginning in 2014 when Ukraine’s pro-Russian president was ousted. In response, Russia annexed Crimea and supported insurgents in violent clashes in eastern Ukraine.