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EU foreign ministers to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia
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US President Donald Trump has defended Russia’s “terrible” missile attack on Sumy as a “mistake”.
“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,” he told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday evening.
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Trump to visit the country and see the devastation for himself.
Two Russian ballistic missiles struck the city of Sumy on Sunday, killing 34 people and wounding 117 in one of the deadliest strikes of the war.
A video posted on social media by the Ukrainian president showed bodies strewn in the middle of a city street near a destroyed bus and burnt-out cars.
Russia’s defence ministry later said that it hit a meeting of Ukrainian commanding officers in Sumy with two Iskander missiles, Russian news agencies reported.
On the diplomatic front, the European Union said it is working on the 17th package of Russian sanctions after the bloc’s foreign ministers met in Luxembourg on Monday.
Orchestra musician Olen Kohut was among the 34 people killed in Russia’s deadly strike on Sumy.
“On April 13, 2025, as a result of a missile strike by Russia, our theater family suffered a pain that words cannot describe. Inflicted wounds killed our colleague, artist of the orchestra theater — Olena Kohut,” Sumy National Theatre said on Facebook.
“Elena was an extremely bright person, a true professional, a sympathetic colleague, and a reliable friend. Her music, her smile, her kindness — will forever be in our memories.”
“This is an irreparable loss for our collective, for the entire music community, for everyone who knew and appreciated Olena as an artist and as a person,” the Sumy Oblast Philharmonic said.
Ukraine is designing a strategic-level air defence system, its foreign minister announced at the Luxembourg meeting.
“Putin will move further into Europe and closer to your homes if he is not stopped in Ukraine. This is the reality,” Andrii Sybiha said.
Ukraine has repeatedely urged Western allies to ramp up air dfeence support since Russia’s invasion.
Overnight attacks by Russia sparked a fire at a petrol station in Zaporizhzhia, injured at least eight people and damaged houses across the southeastern part of Ukraine, regional officials said this morning.
No one was injured in the petrol station fire that followed a drone attack on the region, Ivan Fedorov, the governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, said in a post on Telegram. He posted a photo of large flames consuming a structure at night.
The Kyiv Independent said it raised $24,500 for Veteran Hub by selling 1,000 “I stand with Ukraine” t-shirts.
“We are proud to announce that with the incredible support of our readers and community, the Kyiv Independent has successfully raised $24,500 for Veteran Hub,” the outlet said.
Veteran Hub is a charity working to help veterans transition to civilian life.
EU foreign ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss key challenges including Ukraine defence and Russian sanctions.
Here’s what foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc disucssed:
– The EU is working on a 17th package of Russian sanctions ahead of a May foreign affairs meeting.
– More than 73,000 soldiers have already been trained and the bloc is two-thirds through an initiative to deliver 2 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine.
– The bloc has contributed more than €23 billion to Ukraine this year and a “large majority” of member states want to “do more”.
– “Russia alone wants war,” Kallas told reporters in a press conference after the meeting.
On Sunday two Russian ballistic missiles hit the small Ukrainian city of Sumy.
At least 34 people were killed and 117 were wounded, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the war.
The attack is the second large-scale attack to claim civilian lives in just over a week, following a deadly missile strike on Mr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih on April 4 that killed some 20 people, including nine children.
It came just days after Donald Trump’s envoy met Putin for peace talks.
World leaders swiftly condemned the attack with some saying it undermined peace talks.
Read more here…
In his latest claims about Zelensky, President Trump said his counterpart is always seeking to buy US missiles.
“You’ll have some very good proposals very soon,” Trump added in reference to ending the war.
The UK has sent a £752 million payment to support Ukraine in getting vital military equipment.
“The funding will support Ukraine to procure vital military equipment, including urgently needed air defence. This comes as Russia continues its air assault on Ukraine,” HM treasury said in a statement.
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Ukraine war live: Trump accused of ‘propaganda’ by Kyiv over Sumy strike response – The Independent
