As U.S. and Russian officials met to discuss a possible pause in the war, Russia launched a missile strike on northeastern Ukraine, wounding dozens in the city of Sumy.
Following Monday’s attack, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha dismissed Moscow’s diplomatic efforts as insincere, stating that "Russia must stop its attacks rather than making empty declarations about peace."
The latest round of negotiations between the U.S. and Russia took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with discussions reportedly centered on reviving a 2022 grain export deal that would allow Ukraine to resume shipments via the Black Sea. In exchange, Russia is said to be seeking relief from Western sanctions to facilitate its own fertilizer exports.
The closed-door talks lasted 12 hours, with Russian state media reporting that a joint statement was expected to be released on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a White House source told Reuters late Monday that the discussions in Riyadh were progressing "extremely well" and that an official announcement could be expected soon.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian and U.S. delegations are set to hold separate talks in Saudi Arabia, following the Russia-U.S. discussions, according to Ukraine's national broadcaster Suspilne.
Despite diplomatic optimism, the reality on the ground remains stark. Even securing a limited ceasefire has proven to be a formidable challenge, with current talks focusing on the Black Sea as a potential area for de-escalation.
Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain agreement in mid-2023, citing unfulfilled promises on sanctions relief. Since then, it has refused to guarantee safe passage for cargo ships traveling to and from Ukraine.
Notably, while both Ukrainian and Russian delegations are present in the same Riyadh venue, no direct talks between the two warring sides are planned. Ukraine's representatives remained in the building following their separate meeting with U.S. officials on Sunday night. Kyiv later described its discussions as "productive and focused."
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy expressed hope that the parallel negotiations with Ukrainian and Russian officials would yield "meaningful progress" toward ending the war.
Conflict Continues Amid Diplomatic Talks
Despite ongoing negotiations, fighting persists along the vast front line. Ukrainian officials reported that Monday’s missile strike on Sumy left 65 people injured, including 14 children. The attack, which struck a school, a hospital, and residential buildings, was described as one of the most severe to hit the city in recent months.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal condemned the assault, stating, "Russia has once again demonstrated its intent to continue its reign of terror." He called on the international community to escalate pressure on Moscow to end its aggression.
Sumy, which lies near Russia’s Kursk region, has been a frequent target of Russian attacks. Ukrainian forces previously occupied parts of Kursk to strengthen their bargaining position in negotiations, though recent counteroffensives have forced them to retreat.
Tensions remain high as both nations accuse each other of violating last week’s agreement for a temporary 30-day ceasefire, which was supposed to prohibit strikes on critical infrastructure.
Russia's defense ministry claimed that Ukraine launched a drone attack early Monday on the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station in Krasnodar, southern Russia. State media also reported that Russian forces shot down 227 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions
Meanwhile, a separate Russian airstrike injured a 37-year-old man in Ukraine’s Kyiv region, according to local officials.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has left Moscow in control of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.