A fresh wave of Russian missile strikes targeted Ukraine’s north-eastern city of Sumy on Monday, injuring at least 65 people, including 14 children, even as high-level peace negotiations took place in Saudi Arabia between Russian and US officials.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha dismissed Russia’s engagement in peace talks as insincere, stating that Moscow must halt its military aggression instead of issuing "hollow statements about peace."

The missile attack caused significant damage to residential buildings, a school, and a hospital, prompting condemnation from Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. "Russia is once again showing that it wants to continue the terror," he said, urging the international community to ramp up pressure on Moscow.

The strikes coincided with diplomatic efforts in Riyadh, where representatives from the US and Russia held a 12-hour meeting. The discussions reportedly centred on reviving a 2022 grain deal that allowed Ukraine to export goods through the Black Sea. In exchange, Russia is seeking relief from Western sanctions to facilitate its fertiliser exports.

A joint statement on the outcome of the negotiations is expected on Tuesday, according to Russian state media. Meanwhile, a White House official told Reuters that talks were "going extremely well," with hopes of a "positive announcement in the near future."

Ceasefire challenges

Despite ongoing diplomatic engagements, hostilities continue along the front lines. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of violating last week’s 30-day ceasefire agreement, which was intended to prevent attacks on infrastructure.

Russia’s defence ministry claimed Ukrainian drones targeted the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station in Russia’s Krasnodar region early Monday morning. Moscow also reported that its air defence systems had shot down 227 Ukrainian drones in multiple Russian regions overnight.

Separately, a Russian airstrike in Ukraine’s Kyiv region injured a 37-year-old man, local authorities reported.

US-led diplomatic push

The Riyadh negotiations form part of former US President Donald Trump’s strategy to broker a broader ceasefire in Ukraine. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism about the talks, telling Fox News that "real progress" was within reach.

Ukrainian and American officials are set to continue discussions on Tuesday. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov described Sunday’s preliminary meeting with US representatives as "productive and focused."

"We are working towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe," he said in a post on X.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the challenges ahead. "We are only at the beginning of this path," he told Russian state television before Monday’s meeting.

Escalating tensions in Sumy

Sumy, which lies close to the Russian border, has frequently come under attack since the start of the war in February 2022. However, Monday’s strike was described as particularly severe.

The city, once briefly occupied by Russian forces, has been a strategic battleground. Ukrainian troops had gained control of parts of Russia’s Kursk region last year but have been forced to retreat in recent weeks