Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks on Ukraine for months on Tuesday, killing at least 25 people, hours after US President Donald Trump reduced a deadline for Russia to end the war or face economic sanctions.
Some 73 Ukrainian cities and villages were targeted in the overnight attack that killed 25 people, including a pregnant woman and over a dozen prison inmates, and injured around 100 others. A hospital in Kamianske and Bilenke penitentiary were also targeted in the attack that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described as “deliberate”. Ukraine's human rights commissioner said attacking a prison was a gross violation of humanitarian law as people in detention did not lose their right to life and protection.
“Every murder of our people by the Russians, every Russian strike, when there could have been a ceasefire long ago if Russia had not refused - all this shows that Moscow deserves very tough, truly painful, and therefore fair and effective sanctions pressure. They must be forced to stop the killings and make peace,” Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram on Tuesday morning.
Zelenskiy thanked Trump for the latter’s earlier comments about reduced the deadline set for Russia to reach the peace from 50 days to 10 or 12 days. However, Zelenskiy called for tougher measures in order to bring the Kremlin to the negotiation table.
“Peace is possible, but only when Russia stops the war that it started and stops tormenting our people,” Zelenskiy stated.
During the meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, Trump said he was disappointed in Russian leader Vladimir Putin and announced that Russia had 10 or 12 days to end the war or face severe economic sanctions.
