Trump defends Putin over Palm Sunday attack on Ukraine after over 30 killed and more than 100 wounded
Donald Trump has appeared to excuse Vladimir Putin over a deadly attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday, claiming Russia made a “mistake”.
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The US president told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday April 13: “I think it was terrible. And I was told they made a mistake. But I think it’s a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing.
"For that war to have started is an abuse of power. This country would never have allowed that war to have started if I were president.
"That war is a shame. Millions of people are dead that should be alive. Cities are being destroyed all over Ukraine, the whole culture is gone, well it's certainly very severely hurt."
When pushed on what he meant by his comments, Mr Trump repeated "they made a mistake", adding: "You're gonna ask them."
The attack saw two ballistic missiles strike Sumy as residents gathered on the morning of Palm Sunday.
Ukrainian emergency services said at least 34 people had been killed in the attack, including two children, while 117 had been injured.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media that “only filthy scum can act like this – taking the lives of ordinary people”.
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Sir Keir Starmer has also condemned the attack, saying: “This latest deadly attack is a stark reminder of the continued bloodshed perpetrated by Putin.
“President Zelenskyy has shown his commitment to peace, President Putin must now agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions – as Ukraine has done.”
The attack comes after a week in which US envoy Steve Witkoff again travelled to Russia to press the Kremlin to come to the negotiating table as President Trump’s administration continues to seek a peace deal.
Moscow has already rejected a US-backed proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, and has appeared to drag its feet on implementing a more limited truce in the Black Sea, saying some of the sanctions on Russia should be lifted first.
Sumy lies around 15 miles from the Russian border, in an area close to the Kursk region which has seen fierce fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops in recent months.
Writing on Sunday, Zelenskyy posted to Telegram: "Only scoundrels can act like this. Taking the lives of ordinary people".
"Tough reaction from the world is needed" he said following the strike.
"Russia wants exactly this kind of terror and is dragging out this war,"