Macron: Strong measures are needed to force Moscow to accept a ceasefire in Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that "strong measures" are needed to force Moscow to accept a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, following the deadly attack by the Russian military in Sumi.

"Everyone knows this: this war started only from Russia," Macron wrote in X.

"And today, it is clear that only Russia is choosing to continue it, ignoring people's lives, international law and the diplomatic efforts of [US President Donald Trump]," he said.

More than 32 people were killed on Sunday by a Russian missile attack in the Ukrainian city of Sumi, officials announced.

Among those killed are two children. At least 84 other people were injured, including 10 children.

The Russian military fired two ballistic missiles into the city center around 10:15 a.m., at the time people had gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, according to officials.

The attack came less than a day after senior Russian and Ukrainian diplomats accused each other of violating a US-brokered interim agreement to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, highlighting the difficulties of talks to end the three-year war.

Last month, the Kremlin and the White House announced the general milestones of a ceasefire — a limited ban on attacks on energy infrastructure such as power plants, transmission lines, substations and similar structures.

Kiev supported the limited ceasefire, provided Moscow adhered to it.

Subsequently, there was an interim agreement to limit fighting in the Black Sea region, as part of efforts to resume large-scale exports of Ukrainian and Russian agricultural products.

However, the Kremlin insisted on some conditions that outside experts described as difficult, not to say impossible to meet.

Now, almost a month later, the ceasefire has deteriorated to the point of failure, as both Kiev and Moscow continue daily attacks using dozens of powerful drones and missiles./rel