‘Before Negotiations…Come To See’: Zelensky Urges Trump to Visit Ukraine

Latest Developments

• Civilians Celebrating Palm Sunday Killed: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invited President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine to see Russia’s atrocities for himself during an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes on April 13. “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 said. Zelensky’s comments came after two Russian ballistic missiles landed in the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing 34 civilians and wounding more than 100 as residents were celebrating Palm Sunday.
• Russia Claims It Targeted Military Leaders: President Donald Trump, whose administration has been urging both sides to reach a ceasefire, said that the attack was “a horrible thing” but that he had been told that it was a “mistake” by Russia. Russian state-affiliated media reported, however, that the strikes were intentional, claiming to have targeted and killed 60 members of the Ukrainian military gathered for a meeting in Sumy. The atrocity in Sumy came just days after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss a possible settlement of the war.
• Europe Calls for Stronger Measures Against Russia: European leaders expressed outrage at the attack, with foreign ministers calling for additional sanctions and the possible seizure of the Russian Central Bank’s assets. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X that he was “appalled” by the strikes, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused Putin of committing a “deliberate and calculated war crime.” French President Emmanuel Macron said on X: “Everyone knows: this war was initiated by Russia alone. And today, it is clear that Russia alone chooses to continue it.” He added that “strong measures are needed to impose a ceasefire on Russia.”

FDD Expert Response

“Russia’s Palm Sunday attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy — killing dozens of civilians, including the renowned musician Olena Kohut — was a war crime, an atrocity, and a clear demonstration that Vladimir Putin has no interest in peace. What he wants instead is to subsume Ukraine into the Russian empire by military force and terror. President Trump said he was told the ballistic missile and cluster munitions strike was a ‘mistake.’ If that’s true, it’s a mistake for which Putin should be made to pay a high price. It’s high time President Trump put serious pressure on Putin, as he’s rightly threatened to do. That’s the only path to the ceasefire President Trump has been trying to achieve. Absent such pressure, Putin will make many more ‘mistakes’ over the days ahead.” — Clifford D. May, Founder and President

“The horrific loss of life resulting from Russia’s strikes in Sumy demonstrates why President Trump needs to increase the pressure on Putin to stop this war. Diplomatic engagement with the Kremlin is necessary, but Trump also needs leverage. That means helping Ukraine exhaust the Russian military’s offensive potential and tightening sanctions on the Russian economy.” — John Hardie, Russia Program Deputy Director

“Russia’s missile strike in Sumy tells us all we need to know about Russia’s peace plans. Moscow views these negotiations as a way to achieve its longstanding objective of subjugating Ukraine, not to reach a genuine compromise. Putin’s goal of dominating Ukraine isn’t going to change. He sees it as fundamental to Russia’s place in the world and to his own legacy as a modern-day tsar. The Trump administration should not be fooled by Putin’s promises. His actions speak louder than words.” — Ivana Stradner, Research Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“Obama and Biden’s failed Russia policies,” by Clifford D. May

“Pressure Putin,” by Clifford D. May

“Europe Must Take the Lead,” by Ivana Stradner and Marina Chernin

“How to Secure the Black Sea During a Russia-Ukrainian Ceasefire,” by Benjamin Jensen and RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery