Key events
Morning opening: Europe reacts to Sumy attack
Jakub Krupa
EU foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg this morning to discuss the key challenges facing the bloc in foreign affairs, with Ukraine top of the pile.
Reeling from the shock of Russia’s Palm Sunday’s attack on Sumy, which killed at least 34 and injured more than 100, the leaders will discuss what more they can do to help Ukraine deter Russian aggression.
We saw strong political reactions already on Sunday. French president Emmanuel Macron blamed Moscow for “blatant disregard for human lives, international law, and the diplomatic efforts of president Trump.”
Incoming German chancellor Friedrich Merz accused Russia of “serious war crimes” and “perfidy” in the way the attack was conducted. Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said the attack represented “the Russian version of a ceasefire.”
On arrivals this morning, the language of top foreign policy chiefs was similarly clear. EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said it only served as a reminder of the importance of supporting Ukraine “to put maximum pressure on Russia” as the Vladimir Putin continues to reject the ceasefire offer.
Poland’s Radosław Sikorski said the “heinous” attack was “Russia’s mocking answer” to the peace efforts by president Trump, saying he hoped the US administration would see “the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill.”
But it does not appear to be seen that way over in the US.
Speaking to reporters last night, US president Donald Trump said the attack on Sumy was “terrible,” but added he was “told it was a mistake.” He then blamed Joe Biden for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as he asserted: “this is not my war.”
Coincidentally, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CBS in an interview that he feared that “Russian narratives are prevailing in the US,” as he pointedly blamed vice-president JD Vance for the infamous Oval Office spat by saying he was “somehow justifying Putin’s actions.”
Zelenskyy also issued a dramatic plea to Trump asking him “before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead.”
Let’s see if his invite gets picked up by the White House.
It’s Monday, 14 April 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
