The Trump administration has declined to endorse a G7 joint statement condemning Russia’s recent missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, citing ongoing peace negotiations with Moscow as the reason for withholding support. Sources familiar with diplomatic communications revealed that the U.S. informed its G7 partners of its decision, emphasizing the need to maintain diplomatic channels with the Kremlin.
The April 13 attack on Sumy, which occurred during Palm Sunday services, resulted in the deaths of at least 34 civilians, including two children, and injured over 100 others. Ukrainian officials condemned the strike as a deliberate act of terror.
While European leaders have labeled the attack a war crime and called for increased sanctions against Russia, President Trump described the incident as a “terrible mistake,” without providing further details.
The U.S. stance has caused frustration among G7 members, particularly Canada, which currently holds the G7 presidency. Canadian officials indicated that without U.S. support, the joint statement could not proceed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged for stronger international pressure on Russia, emphasizing that diplomatic efforts alone are insufficient to halt aggression.
As the conflict continues, the international community remains divided on the approach to address Russia’s actions in Ukraine, balancing diplomatic negotiations with calls for accountability.
The strike came just two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin met for nearly five hours in St. Petersburg with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Witkoff later told Fox News that the talks had opened the door to a “reframing” of U.S.-Russia relations and hinted at “very interesting commercial opportunities,” though he provided no further details.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that Kyiv had responded positively to Trump’s proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, including an end to strikes like those in Sumy and Kryvyi Rih. However, Zelenskyy emphasized in a national address that 34 days had passed since the proposal—and Russia continued its bombardments. “Putin clearly has no intention of stopping this war without strong external pressure,” he said.
