Ceasefires are being negotiated… and ending
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy backed a limited ceasefire that would ban attacks on civilian infrastructure after a call with President Trump Wednesday, which both described as “positive.” Russian President Putin agreed to the narrow proposal on Tuesday but rejected Trump’s push for a broader 30-day ceasefire.
Russian forces carried out drone attacks on two hospitals in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, Ukrainian officials say. Within hours of the Putin-Trump conversation concluding yesterday, a drone hit a hospital in the city of Sumy with 147 patients and 22 staff inside, a statement from Ukrainian prosecutors says.
Then, in the early hours of Wednesday, six drones attacked a hospital in the regional town of Krasnopillya with 49 patients and 11 staff inside, the statement says. It adds that the building sustained significant damage but no one was hurt because they were in a shelter at the time of the attack.
U.S.-led negotiations will continue Sunday in Saudi Arabia, with Secretary of State Rubio and National Security Advisor Waltz representing the U.S.; Russia and Ukraine’s participation remains unclear.
Meanwhile, the Israel/Hamas ceasefire appears to have fully broken. Israel resumed its ground assault and heavy airstrikes in Gaza this week; Hamas began returning rocket fire yesterday. At least 500 people have been killed since fighting resumed, and there’s not a clear path to resuming peace talks.
