French President Emmanuel Macron called on Sunday for “strong measures” to compel Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, following a deadly Russian missile strike on the city of Sumi.
“Everyone knows this: this war was started solely by Russia,” Macron wrote on X. “And today, it is clear that only Russia is choosing to continue it, disregarding human lives, international law, and the diplomatic efforts of President [Donald Trump].”
More than 32 people were killed on Sunday after Russian forces launched a missile attack on Sumi, Ukrainian officials confirmed. Among the victims were two children, and at least 84 others were injured, including 10 children.
According to officials, two ballistic missiles struck the city center around 10:15 a.m., as crowds had gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday.
The deadly attack occurred less than a day after top diplomats from Russia and Ukraine traded accusations over violations of a U.S.-brokered temporary agreement aimed at halting strikes on energy infrastructure, highlighting the ongoing difficulties in negotiating an end to the three-year-old war.
Last month, the Kremlin and the White House announced a limited ceasefire deal, aiming to stop attacks on key energy facilities such as power plants, transmission lines, and substations. Kyiv supported the deal, contingent on Moscow’s compliance.
In parallel efforts, a temporary agreement was also reached to reduce military operations in the Black Sea region to facilitate the broader resumption of Ukrainian and Russian agricultural exports.
However, the Kremlin imposed conditions that external experts described as difficult, if not impossible, to meet.
Nearly a month later, the limited ceasefire has largely collapsed, with both Kyiv and Moscow conducting daily attacks involving dozens of drones and powerful missiles.
