Trump: Russian Strike on Sumy Was a Mistake
U.S. President Donald Trump described a recent deadly Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy as a “mistake,” The Gaze reports, citing CNN.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he was informed that Russia “made a mistake” in launching the strike, which killed at least 34 people on Palm Sunday.
“I think it was terrible. And I was told they made a mistake. But I think it’s a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing. I think, for that war to have started, is an abuse of power. This country would have never allowed that war to have started if I were president. That war is a shame,” Trump said.
When asked to clarify what he meant by Russia making a “mistake,” he responded, “They made a mistake. I believe it was — look, you’re gonna ask them.”
Trump reiterated a common line of criticism: “Remember this: This is Biden’s war. I’m just trying to get it stopped so that we can save a lot of lives.”
The deadly strike, which occurred as residents gathered for Palm Sunday church services in the northeastern city of Sumy, is the most lethal attack of the war in 2025. According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, 34 people were killed, including two children and 117 others were injured.
Trump also mentioned he met on Sunday with his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who recently held talks with Vladimir Putin.
“He had some very good meetings in the Middle East. And he also had good meetings having to do with Russia-Ukraine,” Trump said.
As The Gaze previously reported, a Russian missile strike on the morning of 13 April in the center of Sumy, in eastern Ukraine, killed at least 34 people, including two children.
Read more on The Gaze: Russia Intensifies Attacks on Ukraine Despite Peace Pledge