France has led a chorus of condemnation following one of the deadliest Russian attacks on Ukraine in recent months, with President Emmanuel Macron calling for "strong measures" to pressure Moscow into accepting a ceasefire.
The missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy has left Europe, and particularly France, outraged by what President Macron described as Russia’s "blatant disregard for human lives".
At least 34 people were killed and over 100 injured when two Russian ballistic missiles struck the heart of Sumy, a city close to the Russian border.
Among the victims were children, with emergency services reporting a harrowing scene of burning vehicles, shattered buildings, and civilians scrambling for safety.
"Numerous civilian casualties, including children once again," Macron said in a statement posted on social media on Sunday, expressing both sorrow and determination.
Macron did not mince words, squarely blaming Russia for continuing a war it had started. "Everyone knows: this war was initiated by Russia alone," he wrote. "And today, it is clear that Russia alone chooses to continue it – with blatant disregard for human lives, international law, and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump".
Broad condemnation from European leaders
His remarks come as European allies rally behind Ukraine, with leaders across the continent issuing sharp rebukes.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the strike, while Italy’s Giorgia Meloni labelled it a "cowardly" act.
Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz went a step further, describing the attack as "a serious war crime, deliberate and intended."
The French response has been particularly forceful, reflecting growing frustration in Paris over the lack of progress toward peace.
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Macron’s call for "strong measures" hints at possible new sanctions or a shift in France’s support for European-led military reinforcement efforts currently under discussion.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged US President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine and witness the devastation first-hand.
The attack occurred on Palm Sunday, a major Christian celebration, which Zelensky said underscored the “deranged” nature of Russia’s military campaign.
"Only completely deranged scum can do something like this," he said in an emotional address.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "deeply alarmed and shocked" by the strike, which highlighted a "devastating pattern of similar assaults on Ukrainian cities and towns in recent weeks," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Muted reaction from Donald Trump
Trump’s reaction to the Russian strike was notably subdued and somewhat ambiguous. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, the US President described the attack as a “horrible thing” and a “mistake,” though he stopped short of directly condemning Moscow.
"I think it was terrible. And I was told they made a mistake. But I think it's a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing," Trump said, offering little detail on who exactly made the "mistake" or how it happened.
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When pressed for clarification, he replied vaguely, "You're gonna ask them," without specifying whether he was referring to the Russian military, intelligence, or political leadership.
Despite diplomatic efforts, including recent visits to Moscow by US envoys, Russia continues to reject calls for a ceasefire.
The Sumy strike is just the latest in a series of brutal offensives by Russia, and French officials are warning that diplomatic patience is running thin.
