Estonia calls for increased pressure on Russia after deadly Sumy strike

On the morning of Tuesday, June 3, Russian forces struck central Sumy. Four people were killed, and more than 20 were injured. The strikes damaged a medical facility, cars, and buildings.

The Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna responded to the attack, reminding that Russia has repeatedly rejected ceasefire proposals because it wants to continue “what we’re witnessing again today in Sumy.”

“Barbaric attacks on civilians aimed at breaking Ukraine’s spirit & erasing the country. Only increased pressure will force Russia to end this war,” Tsahkna said.

• The strike came the day after a meeting in Istanbul between Ukrainian and Russian delegations, which lasted just over an hour.
• Following the meeting, the parties agreed on another exchange of certain categories of prisoners. Kyiv also handed over a list of several hundred Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia.
• Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, stated that the goal of the “peace talks” in Istanbul is to “ensure a quick and complete victory for Russia.”