While its negotiators met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a possible ceasefire, Russia bombed a children’s hospital, which left 88 injured, including 17 children. The missile strike, which caused widespread anger, hit a residential area in the city of Sumy, northeastern Ukraine.
The bombing came as the second round of ceasefire negotiations between Russians and US delegates was held in Riyadh. Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister, slammed Russia, saying Moscow “must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians” instead of making “hollow statements about peace”. Horrifying images emerged following the attack on the civilian infrastructure.
“It was very loud, houses were shaking, windows were flying out,” aid worker and Sumy resident, Liza Sherstyuk, told The Telegraph, adding that her colleagues were “very scared”.
Video footage also showed black smoke pouring out of an apartment building that was also hit during the missile strike.
Just a few hours before the meeting, Ukraine destroyed four Russian helicopters using US-made Himars missiles thanks to the help of US-supplied intelligence.
The talks in Riyadh are expected to have focused narrow agreements on suspending attacks on energy infrastructure as safe passage for vessels in the Black Sea instead of an overall ceasefire.
Vladimir Putin previously said the key condition for a 30-day ceasefire was an end to deliveries of Western weapons and intelligence to Kyiv.
On Sunday (March 23), a Ukrainian delegation led by Defence Minister Rusten Umerov held a bilateral meeting with US negotiators. Following the conclusion of the separate discussions with Russia on Monday, more talks are expected.
Serhii Leshchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian president’s office, warned against an imminent agreement in comments to local media. “Negotiations are usually not concluded in a single day,” he said, adding “they sometimes take months”.
In an interview with Time magazine, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the White House for falling victim to Russian disinformation and US official’s habit of echoing Putin.
“I believe Russia has managed to influence some people on the White House team through information.
“Their signal to the Americans was that the Ukrainians do not want to end the war, and something should be done to force them.”