Two Russian missiles loaded with cluster bombs hit the city centre of Sumy this morning – on Palm Sunday, when Ukrainians traditionally go to church ahead of Easter. At least 32 people were killed, including two children. More than 80 were injured. The deadliest hit was on a trolleybus, pictured above. After the strike, a Russian military blogger calling himself ‘Terem’ posted this: ‘My opinion as a good Christian – the Russians must destroy these people. They are preventing us from building the Third Rome… they must pay with their blood. The end justifies the means.’
The attack on Sumy comes just a week after another Russian Iskander missile, also filled with cluster bombs, struck a playground in Kryvyi Rih – Volodymy Zelensky’s hometown. It sliced through metal swings, shattered windows and tore through bodies. Twenty people died in total, including nine children. The youngest victim was three years old. Ukraine declared a day of national mourning while Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed, in typical fashion, that it was a ‘successful’ strike on a gathering of Ukrainian and foreign military personnel. But there were no soldiers on the playground or in the restaurant nearby, only families.
This morning, Zelensky demanded a ‘strong response from the world,’ reminding everyone that it’s now been a month since Ukraine agreed to a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire. ‘Without pressure on the aggressor, peace is impossible’, Zelensky said. ‘Talking has never stopped ballistic missiles and bombs. We need to treat Russia as a terrorist deserves.’ But his call is likely to go unanswered in Washington. Trump’s administration didn’t respond after the slaughter in Kryvyi Rih. Why would it now?
Just two days ago, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff was once again in Russia, placing his hand over his heart as he greeted Vladimir Putin – for the third time. And for the third time, the talks collapsed. Putin is in no rush. He feels comfortable enough to refuse Trump’s ceasefire proposal until Russian terms are met. The Kremlin is demanding that Kyiv stop conscripting men and has asked for military aid from the West to be cut off. Moscow is also demanding relief from sanctions and the installation of a ‘temporary’ government in Ukraine under UN supervision. Witkoff is said to have advised Trump that the fastest way to end the war would be to recognise Russia’s sovereignty over the four partially occupied regions of Ukraine.
In Kyiv, these proposals are seen as capitulation, dressed up as peace. So whatever hope Ukrainians had that the fighting and the dying might pause – at least for 30 days – has now vanished. Since the ceasefire was proposed, Russia has launched more than 70 missiles and 2,200 drones at Ukrainian cities. Its spring offensive in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions is now underway. The war keeps escalating. Trump, for his part, said Russia dragging its feet made him ‘very angry.’ He even threatened to put secondary tariffs on all oil coming out of Russia. But, in the end, he did nothing. No deadlines. No consequences. No Easter ceasefire.
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