Macron Calls for Strong Measures Against Russia's Continued Aggression

The US ambassador expressed “solidarity” with Kyiv following multiple Russian attacks on civilian areas, a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Washington for what he called a “weak response” to Moscow’s deadly campaign against his country’s cities.

“We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine on this day of national mourning after a Russian missile attack in Kryviy Rih killed 20, including 9 children. Our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those killed and injured,” Ambassador Bridget Brink wrote on X on April 6.

“As of 6:30 a.m., Kyiv and the rest of Ukraine remain under a ballistic and cruise missile attack from Russia. Loud explosions in the capital and reports of attacks in multiple cities,” she added.

Separately, in the face of the relentless air strikes on civilian areas, French President Emmanuel Macron called for "strong measures" should Moscow continue to block efforts to negotiate a peace deal.

“While Ukraine accepted President [Donald] Trump’s proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day cease-fire nearly a month ago, and as we work with all our partners to secure peace, Russia continues its war with renewed intensity, showing no regard for civilians,” Macron wrote on X.

“These Russian strikes must stop. A cease-fire must be reached as soon as possible. And strong action must follow if Russia continues to stall and reject peace,” he added.

On April 5, Zelenskyy sharply criticized what he called a "weak" US response to a Russian air attack that hit a playground, killing at least 20 people, half of whom were children, in a residential neighborhood in the city of Kryviy Rih, Zelenskyy's hometown.

Brink had said in a social media post that she was "horrified" by the strike that also injured at least 74 others, saying "this is why the war must end."

But Zelenskyy slammed the statement for failing to call out Russia by name, something that Brink -- who was appointed by former President Joe Biden -- regularly did in statements before Trump came to office.

"Unfortunately, the response from the US Embassy is surprisingly disappointing -- such a strong country, such a strong people, and yet such a weak reaction," Zelenskyy wrote on social media.

The remarks come in the wake of a series of deadly air strikes by Russian forces on Ukrainian cities.

Kyiv officials said one person was killed and at least three others wounded when a missile hit an industrial district in the capital, sparking fires and damaging a warehouse and other buildings.

The casualties appeared to be limited because the districts are home mainly to industrial businesses and storage warehouses.

In Kupyansk, a city east of Kharkiv, Russian forces dropped a glide bomb on a residential district, causing widespread damage and wounding two people.

Much of the city, which is close to the front lines, has been evacuated as Russian forces are crept closer from the north.

Glide bombs are heavy munitions that are retrofitted with guidance systems and dropped from aircraft behind the front lines. The weapons are hard to defend against, and Russian forces have used them to devastating effect against Ukrainian defenses across the front lines.

Overall, Russia fired nearly two dozen missiles at Ukrainian targets and more than 100 drones, authorities said. Half the missiles and nearly half the drones were shot down, officials claimed.

Ukraine, for its part, fired at 11 drones at Russian targets, Russia's Defense Ministry said.

In February, the Kremlin and the White House, as well as Ukrainian authorities, announced the framework for a limited cease-fire that would restrict attacks on energy infrastructure such as power plants, transmission lines, and substations. Moscow and Washington also announced a deal to limit military activity in the Black Sea region.

However, Ukrainian and Russian forces have continued to fire drones and missiles at one another, almost nightly.

Zelenskyy said Russia had launched more than 1,460 guided aerial bombs, nearly 670 attack drones, and more than various 30 missiles over the past week.

The deadliest attack came in Kryviy Rih, a city of 603,000 people, late on April 4, killing 20 people, including 10 children, authorities said. An official day of mourning was held on April 6.

Moscow claimed the strike had targeted a Ukrainian military gathering.

Eyewitness accounts, official statements, and public records and other open-source materials reviewed by Systema, RFE/RL's Russian investigative unit, show that the restaurant the Russian military says it targeted because it was hosting a meeting of military units and foreign advisers was actually the site of a beauty industry forum and a birthday party.

"We must put pressure on Russia, which chooses to kill children instead of a cease-fire," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. "We must introduce additional sanctions against those who cannot exist without ballistic strikes on neighboring people."

Off the battlefield, a US official told ABC that Trump decided not to impose tariffs on Russian imports over concerns that it would disrupt the ongoing cease-fire talks.

Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, told the TV network it would have been inappropriate "to throw a new thing into these negotiations right in the middle of it."

"There's obviously an ongoing negotiation with Russia and Ukraine, and I think the president made the decision not to conflate the two issues," Hassett said.

"It doesn't mean that Russia, the fullest of time, is going to be treated wildly different than every other country," he added.

According to 2024 US data, some $3 billion in imported goods came from Russia to the United States. About $1.2 billion came from Ukraine.

By RFE/RL