Donald Trump has blamed Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the war in Ukraine. It comes after Russia tried to explain a deadly attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy yesterday. Trump says the strike was a „mistake“. Follow the latest below.
Monday 14 April 2025 21:35, UK
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Security and defence analyst Michael Clarke is back on Wednesday for his regular Q&A on the Ukraine war.
Submit your questions in the box at the top of the page.
Last week, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said two Chinese citizens had been captured while fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president said his forces had fought six Chinese soldiers, and two of them had been taken prisoner.
Now, those two have given a press conference.
They touch on the role of TikTok posts in recruitment, the rewards on offer and how many other Chinese fighters they knew of in Ukraine.
Here are some of the answers they gave:
Russia is „openly refusing to cease fire“ and is „not afraid“, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
In a video address released on X, the Ukrainian president said Vladimir Putin „remains focused on continuing the war“.
He also claimed that Russian state propagandists are „preparing their audience for the idea that diplomacy will not bring any results“.
He added: „There is only one reason for this – in Moscow, they are not afraid.
„If there is not enough pressure on Russia, they will keep doing what they are used to – they will keep waging war.
„We all want this to end. Peace is needed – and it must be lasting.“
Three civilians were killed in Russia’s Kursk region after a Ukrainian drone attack, the area’s governor has said.
Alexander Khinshtein said the fatalities occurred in the villages of Giryi and Zolotaryovka.
He made the comments on his Telegram account.
Ukraine’s air force says Sumy has been targeted by a Russian missile and guided bombs, after an attack in the city on Sunday morning killed 35 people.
Public broadcaster Suspilne said there has been an explosion in the city.
Local officials said the missile strike was on the outskirts of the city and reported no casualties
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 38 people were still receiving medical treatment following the attack yesterday, including nine children (2.50pm post).
Eleven people, including three children, were in a critical condition, the leader said on X.
The city is close to the Russian border in northeastern Ukraine.
New tech, including Ukrainian-made drones and unmanned vehicles, were on display at an undisclosed location in Ukraine.
Kyiv has been forced to innovate in the three years it has been at war with Russia.
The attack has left at least 34 people dead and more than 100 injured, adding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
To shed further light on the attack and its wider implications, Sky’s Michael Clarke delivers a detailed analysis.
Ukraine’s defence ministry says its Lithuanian counterpart has provided €10m (£8.6m) for the „production of advanced Ukrainian long-range weaponry“.
It says such weapons are „already proving effective on the battlefield – enhancing our range, precision, and power“.
The ministry describes the money as a „strategic investment in Ukraine’s strength, our independence, and the security of all of Europe“.
It adds: „We are grateful to the government and people of Lithuania for their steadfast support, strategic vision, and real contribution to our victory.“
Russia has accused Germany of taking a position that could lead to an escalation of the war in Ukraine.
Friedrich Merz, due to take office as German chancellor next month, has suggested his country could provide Kyiv with Taurus long-range missiles.
Asked by German public broadcaster ARD if he would supply the weapons, Merz said he would consider that if it were part of a wider package of support agreed with European allies.
„This must be jointly agreed,“ he said. „And if it’s agreed, then Germany should take part.“
In response, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, claimed that Merz’s comments showed he advocated a „tougher position“ which would „inevitably lead only to a further escalation of the situation around Ukraine“.
He added: „Unfortunately, it’s true that European capitals are not inclined to look for ways to reach peace talks, but are rather inclined to further instigate the continuation of the war.“
Donald Trump has accused Volodymyr Zelenskyy of not being „competent“.
Speaking in the White House’s Oval Office just now in a meeting with El Salvador’s leader, he told reporters: „If Biden were competent, and if Zelenskyy were competent, and I don’t know that he is…
„There was no way that war should never have been allowed to happen.“
He added: „Biden could have stopped it, and Zelenskyy could have stopped it, and Putin should have never started it.“
‚When you start a war, you’ve got to know you can win‘
Asked about Zelenskyy, Trump said: „When you start a war you’ve got to know you can win the war.
„You don’t start a war against somebody that’s 20 times your size.
„And then hope that people give you some missiles.“
Trump says he was the first to give Ukraine Javelin missiles.
„Millions of people are dead because of three people,“ Trump adds.
„Let’s say Putin number one, let’s say Biden, who had no idea what the hell he was doing, number two, and Zelenskyy.
„And all I can do is try and stop it – that’s all I want to do. I want to stop the killing.
„And I think we’re doing well in that regard. I think you’ll have some very good proposals very soon.“
Donald Trump’s latest Ukraine outburst on Truth Social (see previous post) comes the day after Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the US president to visit Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president told CBS: „Please come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children, destroyed or dead.“
Zelenskyy said Trump should visit his country before making any negotiation decisions in talks with Russia.
During the interview, he was asked if Ukraine could rely on support from the United States.
He paused, before saying: „Even in this pause of mine, there’s a problem, because I want to answer truthfully and quickly that the United States is our strategic, strong partner.
„But the pause is doubt. I don’t doubt that the people of America are with us, but in a long war, many details are forgotten.“
Now, that doubt may have grown stronger after Donald Trump accused him of „allowing“ the war to start.
On 28 February, Zelenskyy visited the White House and was heavily criticised by Trump and vice president JD Vance.
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Ukraine war latest: Trump points finger over war – saying 'millions are dead because of three people' – Sky News
