‘This can be a homicide’ – Zelensky rebukes Trump for calling lethal Sumy strike a mistake

President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted on April 17 to U.S. President Donald Trump’s characterization of a lethal Russian missile strike on Sumy as a “mistake,” pointing to the deliberate nature of the strike that killed at the least 35 civilians.

Zelensky made the remark after being requested about Trump’s remarks throughout a press convention in Kyiv.

“Excuse me, however this can be a homicide. This strike went to the (metropolis) heart, it didn’t go to the entrance line,” he mentioned. “We can not discover excuses while you hit the town heart with missiles, not (with) only one (missile), and if it's not only one (missile), it's not a mistake.”

Russia launched two ballistic missiles at Sumy on the morning of Palm Sunday on April 13, killing at the least 35 folks, together with two kids, and injuring at the least 117 others. The strike, which hit civilian infrastructure within the metropolis heart, was one of many deadliest in latest months. Trump known as the missile strike on Sumy “horrible,” however steered it was a “mistake.”

Zelensky additionally reacted to the feedback made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who publicly condemned the strike. “There was a response from Secretary of State Rubio, and his response was clear. He condemned it, and we’re grateful for this response,” Zelensky mentioned.

“Extra critical condemnation got here from a lot of our different companions who spoke clearly about who the Russians are after such actions.”

Zelensky additionally famous what he described as a “softer” tone from the U.S. administration and broader political institution towards Russia. “I consider this softer response displays a continuation of the present U.S. coverage. They appear to suppose that this type of diplomacy will assist finish the warfare,” he mentioned. “That’s how I interpret it.”

The U.S. knowledgeable fellow G7 members that it might not assist a joint assertion condemning Russia’s missile strike on Sumy, Bloomberg reported on April 15, citing unnamed sources.

The Trump administration had additionally earlier blocked a proposed G7 assertion marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion and vetoed a plan to determine a process power to watch Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers. As well as, Washington declined to again resolutions condemning Russian aggression on the United Nations and the World Commerce Group.

Whereas Trump has pledged to dealer a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, his peace effort has stalled as Moscow continues to reject the proposed 30-day full truce supported by each the U.S. and Ukraine. To date, Trump has not elevated strain on Moscow.

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