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.

In Sumy, a city already obliterated by conflict, a devastating missile strike killed at least 32 - including two children - as Russian despot Vladimir Putin stands accused of needlessly prolonging the bloody three-year war with Ukraine.

European officials have condemned Russia’s deadly missile attack k on Ukraine’s Sumy that killed and wounded scores.

The defence ministry said its forces had fired "two Iskander-M tactical missiles at the meeting venue" of what it called an operational tactical group of Ukraine's armed forces. It said that more than 60 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the strike.

Russia on Monday claimed its deadly missile attack on Ukraine’s Sumy that killed and wounded scores including children had targeted a gathering of Ukrainian troops, while European leaders condemned the attack as a war crime.