At least 32 people have been killed in a Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s northeastern city of Sumy, the interior minister has said. Follow the latest on the Ukraine war.
Sunday 13 April 2025 15:01, UK
More images are coming in now from Sumy, where at least 32 people have been killed and more than 90 injured.
US and Ukrainian officials met on Friday to discuss a US proposal to gain access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth, according to reports.
A source told Reuters that Washington’s new proposal was more expansive than the original version and would give the US privileged access to Ukraine’s mineral deposits.
It would also require Kyiv to place in a joint investment fund all income from the exploitation of natural resources by Ukrainian state and private firms.
The proposed deal, however, would not provide US security guarantees to Kyiv.
“The negotiating environment is very antagonistic,” a source told Reuters.
A treasury department spokesperson confirmed the discussions, calling them “technical in nature.”
For context: A deal on Ukraine’s critical minerals has emerged as an apparently key stepping stone towards peace since Donald Trump began his second term in the White House.
The US president has said he wants to get back some of the money his country has spent helping Ukraine after Russia invaded it in 2022.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to Washington previously to sign a critical minerals deal, but was told to leave the White House after a row erupted in front of the world’s media.
Donald Trump’s envoy for the Ukraine war has spoken out on Russia’s attack in Sumy.
It crosses “any line of decency”, Keith Kellogg posted on social media, with “scores of civilian dead and wounded”.
“It is why President Trump is working hard to end this war,” he added, but Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s communications advisor responded within minutes calling for more action.
He wrote: “Don’t you think it’s time to smack the Moscow mule across the nose with a 2×4?”
The US has had talks with Russia about ending the war – with fears Ukraine will be forced to make concessions – but attacks have not abated in the meantime.
Military representatives of Turkey and foreign nations will meet in Turkey next week to discuss Black Sea security after a possible ceasefire is agreed between Ukraine and Russia, the Turkish defence ministry has said.
“A meeting will be held on 15-16 April at the naval forces headquarters regarding the security of the Black Sea following a possible ceasefire between the Russian Federation and Ukraine,” the ministry said in a statement.
It also said military representatives from both Turkey and foreign countries would attend the meeting but didn’t specify the countries.
For context: Donald Trump’s administration is trying to broker a deal between Ukraine and Russia to end the war.
Washington has tried to implement two limited ceasefire agreements in recent weeks – one for energy infrastructure and one in the Black Sea – but both have fallen through.
Sir Keir Starmer has condemned a Russian missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
The prime minister said: “I am appalled at Russia’s horrific attacks on civilians in Sumy and my thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones at this tragic time.
“This latest deadly attack is a stark reminder of the continued bloodshed perpetrated by Putin.”
Starmer said Zelenskyy had “shown his commitment to peace”, adding “President Putin must now agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions – as Ukraine has done”.
Vladimir Putin is going to push as hard as he can, our international correspondent Diana Magnay says.
She says the strike on Sumy today is “one of the deadliest so far this year” and comes just over a month after a limited ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine began.
“It seems Vladimir Putin wants to keep fighting right up until the point when possibly he stops or possibly negotiations come further than they have now,” Magnay says.
“But clearly he is going to push as hard as he can until that point – maximising the pressure.”
She says the pressure from Russia “continues unabated”.
Magnay also notes that both countries were meant to have agreed to a limited ceasefire about a month ago on energy infrastructure – but both sides accuse each other of continuing attacks.
“Today’s horrific attack comes just a few days after we saw US envoy Steve Witkoff arrive in St Petersburg to meet Putin,” she adds.
Although she notes “we don’t know what the outcome of those talks were”.
French President Emmanuel Macron has commented on Russia’s strike on Sumy – and called the attack a “blatant disregard for human lives”.
He has also called for strong measures to impose a ceasefire on Russia.
Here is what he has said…
We have been reporting today on the Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
Local officials said two ballistic missiles struck the heart of the city at around 10.30am local time as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed rescue efforts are ongoing and he said “dozens” had been killed in the double missile attack.
Here are some of the scenes emerging from the region today…
Sumy’s emergency service is reporting that 32 people have been killed, including two children, in the region.
Another 99 people have been injured, including 11 children.
Volodymyr Zelenkskyy has also issued a new statement issuing his condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed.
“It is very important for everyone in the world not to remain silent, not to remain indifferent,” he said.
“Russian strikes deserve only condemnation. Pressure is needed on Russia to end the war and guarantee people’s safety.
“Without really strong pressure, without proper support from Ukraine, Russia will continue to drag out this war.”
He also said “it is already the second month that Putin has ignored America’s proposal for a complete and unconditional ceasefire.”
Over in eastern Ukraine, Russia has claimed it has captured the village of Yelyzavetivka, which sits in the Donetsk region.
Sky News has not been able to verify this battlefield report from Russia’s defence ministry.
For context: Russia’s military goal is to capture the entire eastern region of Ukraine.
It already controls all of Crimea, almost all of Luhansk, and part of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and the Kherson regions.
It also controls a sliver of the Kharkiv region.
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Ukraine war latest: At least 32 people killed and more than 90 injured in Russian missile attack on Ukrainian city – Sky News
