Russian drone strike kills nine civilians in northern Ukraine amid stalled peace talks

A Russian drone attack on a civilian minibus in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region killed nine people on Saturday, Ukrainian authorities reported, just a day after Moscow and Kyiv agreed on a major prisoner exchange during rare face-to-face talks in Türkiye.

The vehicle, which was traveling near the city of Bilopillya toward Sumy, was struck in what officials described as a deliberate attack. The regional military administration said in a Telegram post that the drone strike killed nine and wounded four others. Photos showed the remains of a blue minibus, torn apart by the blast.

Initial reports had put the death toll at eight before rising to nine as the situation developed.

The Sumy region, bordering Russia, has been subject to intensified bombardments since March, when Ukrainian forces were driven out of parts of Russia’s Kursk region that they had briefly controlled last year.

The deadly strike followed a series of Russian attacks across Ukraine on Friday that killed three people in the eastern Donetsk and southeastern Kherson regions.

No Breakthrough in Istanbul Talks

Despite high hopes and mounting international pressure, the first direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in over three years — held in Istanbul — failed to yield progress on a ceasefire. While both sides agreed to a significant exchange of 1,000 prisoners each, the broader goal of halting hostilities remains elusive.

Russia’s lead negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said the delegations had agreed to present their respective ceasefire proposals. Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv’s delegation, emphasized the need for a direct meeting between Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. Russia acknowledged the request but gave no commitment.

Putin declined to attend the talks in Türkiye, prompting Zelensky to accuse the Russian leader of cowardice and dismiss the Kremlin’s attitude as unserious.

Speaking at a European summit in Albania alongside leaders from France, Germany, Britain, and Poland, Zelensky called for a "strong international response" if the Istanbul talks failed, including new sanctions on Moscow.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that Europe was coordinating with the United States to prepare additional sanctions should Russia continue to reject calls for an “unconditional ceasefire.”

Both the Kremlin and the White House have hinted at a possible future meeting between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump, who has expressed skepticism about the ongoing diplomatic efforts, said no progress would occur “until I meet with Putin face-to-face.”

Territorial Disputes Remain Sticking Point

According to a Ukrainian source cited by AFP, Moscow is pushing aggressive territorial demands, which Ukraine’s foreign ministry dismissed as "unacceptable." Russia continues to claim the annexation of five Ukrainian regions: Crimea, which it seized in 2014, and four others captured during the ongoing invasion that began in February 2022.

More than three years into the war, the conflict has devastated much of Ukraine, displaced millions, and shown little sign of abating despite diplomatic efforts.