Zelensky Reacts Sharpily to Trump’s Statement About the “Misguided” Russian Strike on Sumy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a loud statement regarding the recent missile strike on the city center of Sumy, which claimed the lives of dozens of civilians. Responding to information about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement, in which he called this shelling a "mistake," the Ukrainian leader emphasized that such actions by Russian occupiers cannot be classified as accidental errors or mistakes on their part. According to Zelensky, this is a deliberate and targeted attack with specific goals and consequences, and it should not be treated lightly. The statement was made during a briefing on Thursday, when a representative of the Ukrainian authorities answered journalists’ questions regarding the reactions of the international community, particularly the White House administration, to the recent shellings of Ukrainian cities by Russia. Rather than directly criticizing the words of the former American leader, Zelensky briefly pointed out that the reactions of Washington and its tone vary and reflect different approaches of partners to the crisis. He added that individual diplomatic circles have expressed condemnation of Russian strikes in different tones, but not only diplomacy, but also political course plays a key role in this process. Specifically, in conveying the reaction, the president noted that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the Sumy attack and called it unacceptable. Zelensky stressed that the reactions of many other international partners, who, in his words, have expressed more decisive condemnation and support for Ukraine, are more important. "The diversity of approaches, from mild to more firm, indicates different perceptions of the situation within the international community," the president emphasized. According to him, such diplomacy can sometimes be perceived as a sign of weakness, but he is convinced that this approach is standard for the current U.S. policy regarding the conflict, and sees it as an attempt to maintain dialogue without premature escalation. Regarding the strike itself on Sumy, Zelensky harshly condemned this act of aggression by Russian forces. "This cannot be called a mistake. It is a targeted killing, an attack in the city center, not on the front. And when cluster munitions are used, aimed at the lives of peaceful people—what else can we say? This is war, a war without rules, and every shelling, every missile is an obvious testimony of the evil Russia is doing," the president stressed. It should be reminded that Trump recently claimed in his statements that he personally has nothing to do with Russia's war against Ukraine. He also assured that he allegedly was informed about the situation and was told that the Russian strike on Sumy was a "mistake," which is rather skeptical among Ukrainian experts and commentators. At the same time, the U.S. political leader partially blamed Vladimir Putin for initiating the full-scale invasion, but also emphasized that both the Biden administration and Ukrainian leaders have their roles in this war, and everyone can be held responsible. Despite Trump’s words, Kyiv did not respond positively to his formulations, remaining convinced that the Sumy attack was a deliberate crime by Russian military forces, embedded in a strategic terror plan against civilian populations. Analysis of the international situation shows that the global reaction, although consisting of different assessments and statements, consistently condemns Russia’s aggression and calls for dialogue and diplomatic resolution. At the same time, Ukrainian authorities emphasize the need for more decisive and unequivocal signals of support and solidarity from global partners in the face of aggression. As a next step, we should observe the reactions of the international community and politicians—whether the level and firmness of condemnations will increase in response to new crimes and provocations by Russia. For Ukraine, each verified fact of terrorism and the destruction of peaceful civilians remains not only an insult to the face of the aggressor but also a crucial motive for further fighting for its independence and sovereignty.