Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine in order to “understand what President Vladimir Putin did.” In an interview with CBS on Sunday, Zelenskyy urged Trump to see the devastation firsthand before making decisions or engaging in negotiations.
“Please, before making any decisions, come see the people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead,” Zelenskyy said directly to Trump.
The appeal comes as Russian ballistic missile strikes in Sumy on Sunday morning killed at least 34 people and wounded 83, with two missiles hitting the crowded city center as people attended church for Palm Sunday.
Reports suggest the rising civilian toll in Sumy could push the Trump administration to take a harder stance in peace talks with Russia. Trump has previously expressed interest in directly engaging Moscow to end the war.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced that military representatives from Turkey and other nations will meet in Turkey this week to discuss Black Sea security, particularly in the event of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.