Summary

Ukraine accused Russia of making “hollow statements about peace” after a missile strike in Sumy injured 88 people, including 17 children, amid US-Russia peace talks in Saudi Arabia.

Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, claimed progress toward a 30-day ceasefire but faced backlash for pro-Russian remarks legitimizing Moscow’s staged referendums in four Ukrainian regions.

These votes, condemned as illegitimate by the West, led to Russia’s largest territorial seizure in Europe since World War II.

Ukraine remains skeptical of Moscow’s intentions, pointing to past instances where Moscow failed to honour its commitments.