Russia’s attack on the Ukrainian border city of Sumy has placed unwelcome emphasis on just how little fruit the White House’s relentless pursuit of diplomacy has borne.

Ukraine's Air Force said a new Russian missile and guided bombs targeted the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine on Monday evening, a day after a missile strike killed 35 people in the city.

Russia’s statement that it hit a Ukrainian officers’ meeting in Sumy contradicts Trump’s claim he had been told the attack was a “mistake”. Russia's defence ministry reportedly said it hit a meeting of Ukrainian commanding officers in Sumy with two Iskander missiles after Trump defended the attack as a "mistake".