Russian attack kills 9 in Ukraine just hours after countries hold first peace talks

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: May 17, 2025 8:43 AM EDT | Last Updated: 7 minutes ago

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy connected Saturday called for stronger sanctions connected Moscow aft a Russian drone killed 9 autobus passengers successful northeastern Ukraine, conscionable hours aft the 2 countries held their archetypal bid talks successful 3 years of war.

The gathering of Russian and Ukrainian officials successful Turkey connected Friday failed to broker a impermanent ceasefire. It was the archetypal nonstop dialog betwixt the 2 sides since the aboriginal months of the war that Russia launched successful February 2022.

Commenting connected the drone onslaught successful the Sumy region, Zelenskyy said connected X: "All the deceased were civilians. And the Russians could not person failed to recognize what benignant of conveyance they were targeting. This was a deliberate sidesplitting of civilians."

Ukrainian constabulary posted photos of a acheronian bluish rider van astir destroyed, with the extortion torn disconnected and the windows blown out.

"Pressure indispensable beryllium exerted connected Russia to halt the killings. Without tougher sanctions, without stronger pressure, Russia volition not question existent diplomacy," Zelenskyy said.

He said Russia had sent to Istanbul "a anemic and unprepared" delegation without a meaningful mandate portion existent steps were needed to extremity the war.

"We are expecting beardown sanctions against Russia from the United States, from Europe, and from each our partners. Diplomacy indispensable commencement working," Zelenskyy stated.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been pushing Moscow and Kyiv to clasp bid talks, said earlier the 2 countries' negotiators met successful Istanbul that "nothing could happen" until helium had met straight with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

British overseas curate points to Russian 'obfuscation'

Speaking to Reuters successful Pakistan's superior Islamabad connected Saturday, British Foreign Minister David Lammy accused Moscow of obfuscating after the Istanbul talks, which ended successful little than 2 hours.

"Yet again we are seeing obfuscation connected the Russian broadside and unwillingness to get superior astir the enduring bid that is present required successful Ukraine," Lammy said. "Once again Russia is not serious."

"At what constituent bash we accidental to Putin capable is enough?"

French President Emmanuel Macron also said the talks successful Istanbul had been fruitless.

WATCH | No ceasefire woody reached Friday betwixt Russia and Ukraine: 

"Today, what bash we have? Nothing. And truthful I archer you, faced with President Putin's cynicism, I americium definite that President Trump, mindful of the credibility of the United States, volition react," helium said during a associated news conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Zelenskyy had challenged Putin earlier successful the week to conscionable him successful person, an connection the Russian person ignored. But according to the Ukrainian delegation successful Istanbul, this anticipation was discussed during Friday's talks.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said connected Saturday that Russia considered such a gathering was possible, but lone arsenic a effect of enactment betwixt the 2 sides to "achieve definite results successful the signifier of agreements."

"At the aforesaid time, erstwhile signing documents that the delegations are to hold upon, the main and cardinal happening for america remains who precisely volition motion these documents from the Ukrainian side," Peskov added.

Peskov did not elaborate connected that remark. Putin has antecedently challenged Zelenskyy's legitimacy arsenic president due to the fact that his elected word of bureau expired past year.

Ukraine, nether martial instrumentality arsenic it defends itself against Russia, has not acceptable a day for a caller election