Putin hits Ukrainian civilians with missiles as his envoys discuss 'peace' with Trump representatives in Saudi Arabia

Dozens of people were injured in new Russian attacks on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy today, local officials said, as Russian envoys met with Trump administration representatives in Saudi Arabia to discuss prospects for peace.

The local city council said 74 people, including 13 children, were among the injured after Russian forces launched a missile attack on residential areas and infrastructure facilities, including a 'children's hospital', the Telegraph reports.

Rescue teams are still trying to determine the full extent of the damage as they combed through the rubble and extinguished fires today. The attacks shattered windows and damaged the roofs and walls of homes and a school.

It was Russia's turn to meet with US representatives in Saudi Arabia today, as missiles continued to hit northeastern Ukraine.

The White House stressed the key importance of achieving the beginning of a ceasefire in the Black Sea, in the south, to allow unhindered shipping, before moving towards a more comprehensive agreement.

All eyes were on Riyadh amid talks aimed at reconciling some of the key differences in expectations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin has insisted it is committed to a 30-day US-brokered moratorium on attacks on loosely defined 'energy facilities'.

But civilians in Ukraine still woke up on Monday to a massive drone attack, causing damage and injuries, according to the air force.

Limited progress toward a partial ceasefire appeared fragile last week when Zelensky accused Putin of violating the terms the Russian leader had agreed to just hours earlier.

Russia then accused Ukraine of violating the agreement with an attack on a gas station in Kursk. Zelensky cast doubt on Russia's reporting of the events.

And despite a US push for European countries to take more responsibility for defence on the continent, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, rejected Keir Starmer's plans to put boots on the ground to support a more durable ceasefire, leaving Ukraine's future increasingly uncertain. /Telegraph