Russia accused of hollow peace talks as fresh strike injures dozens

Russia must stop its attacks instead of "making hollow statements about peace", Ukraines 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.

Ukraines delegation is also in the Saudi capital. It remained there after meeting American counterparts on Sunday evening.

Kyiv described talks as "productive and focused", while US President Donald Trumps special envoy said separate discussions with Ukrainian and Russian teams would bring about "some real progress" to ending the war.

Both Russia and Ukraine have continued fighting despite the ongoing talks looking to bring a halt to hostilities across the vast front line.

Ukrainian officials say 65 people, including 14 children, were injured in Mondays attack on the northern city of Sumy.

The strike targeted childrens establishments and a hospital, according to Sumys regional head.

Ukraines Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the attack showed Russia was "once again showing that it wants to continue the terror".

"The international community must increase the pressure on Russia to stop the aggression and ensure justice and save the lives of Ukrainians," he wrote on X.

Sumy borders Russias Kursk region, parts of which have been occupied by Ukrainian troops to strengthen Kyivs hand in any negotiations, though they have been forced back in recent weeks.

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of not abiding by last weeks deal for a 30-day ceasefire during which the warring parties would refrain from targeting infrastructure facilities.

Russias defence ministry said Ukraine launched a drone attack against the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station in Krasnodar, southern Russia, at 02:00 local time on Monday (23:00 GMT on Sunday), according to Russian state media.

The defence ministry said it had shot down overnight 227 Ukrainian drones in several Russian regions.

Meanwhile, a Russian air strike injured a 37-year-old man in Ukraines Kyiv region, according to local authorities.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

The current negotiations, mediated by the US, are part of Trumps plan to secure a wider ceasefire in Ukraine.

His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said he was hopeful that real progress would be made during the talks, in an interview with Fox News.

After Sunday evenings meeting between Kyiv and Washington, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said the talks were working towards securing "a just and lasting peace" for Ukraine and Europe.

"The discussion was productive and focused - we addressed key points including energy", he said in a post on X.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said ahead of Mondays meeting there were "difficult negotiations ahead".

"We are only at the beginning of this path," he told Russian State TV.