Zelensky Invites Trump to Ukraine After Deadly Russian Strike on Sumy

Kyiv, April 14, 2025 — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has extended a direct invitation to former U.S. President Donald Trump to visit war-torn Ukraine before any negotiations are made with Russia regarding an end to the ongoing conflict.

"Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead," Zelensky urged during a recent interview with CBS's 60 Minutes. The interview was recorded just before a devastating Russian missile strike hit the city of Sumy on Sunday.

The attack, one of the deadliest in Ukraine this year, killed 35 civilians and injured 117 more. Russia, without presenting evidence, claimed responsibility for the strike, stating it had targeted a meeting of Ukrainian soldiers using two Iskander missiles, allegedly killing 60 military personnel. Trump, commenting on the incident, said he had been told it was a “mistake,” though he did not specify the source of that information.

Footage from the scene in Sumy shows the alleged meeting site—a conference centre—completely destroyed, with a crater marking the missile impact. Kyiv has not confirmed whether military officials were present, but Sumy’s regional mayor has demanded the resignation of local security heads if such a gathering did occur.