Russia accused of ‘hollow’ peace talks as strike injures dozens

Russia must stop its attacks instead of “making hollow statements about peace”, Ukraine’s foreign minister has said, after a Russian missile strike injured dozens of people in the city of Sumy.
“Any diplomacy with Moscow must be backed by firepower, sanctions and pressure,” Andrii Sybiha said.
The attack, which Ukraine says targeted civilian infrastructure, took place as US and Russian negotiators met in Riyadh for talks aimed at pausing aspects of the war.
Top of the agenda is reportedly the revival of a 2022 grain deal allowing Kyiv to export across the Black Sea without Russian attacks. In return, Moscow is said to be seeking relief from Western sanctions, enabling it to export fertilisers.
Russia stopped giving safe passage to cargo ships going to and from Ukraine in summer 2023, when it pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal.

Courtesy: BBC