34 Dead... Trump Describes Russian Strike on Ukraine's Sumy as "Horrific"
The hesitant US position on holding Russia directly responsible for the attack represents a shift in American diplomatic discourse toward the Russian-Ukrainian conflict since the Trump administration
April 14, 2025, 10:08 pm

34 Dead... Trump Describes Russian Strike on Ukraine's Sumy as

The Kremlin insisted on Monday that the Russian military "only targets military and paramilitary sites," following a missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy that killed 34 people and injured dozens amid Palm Sunday celebrations.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it launched two Iskander missiles "at a meeting place of the Ukrainian command headquarters," accusing Kyiv of using "residents as human shields" by establishing military facilities and organizing events with soldiers' participation in the heart of a densely populated city.

US President Donald Trump described the Russian strike as "horrific," adding: "I was told they made a mistake." When asked to clarify, he said: "This is Biden's war... not my war... I'm just trying to stop it to save many lives."

The White House issued a statement considering the attack "a clear and stark reminder that President Trump's efforts to try to end this terrible war come at a crucial time," without directly blaming Russia.

This attack was preceded by an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to his American counterpart to visit Ukraine before making any decisions, saying: "Come see the people and civilians and hospitals and churches and children... then let's move forward with a plan to end the war."

This attack is one of the bloodiest in recent weeks and comes two days after a senior US official visited Russia following the resumption of communications between Washington and Moscow in mid-February.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.