Donald Trump has defended Vladimir Putin over Russia’s deadly attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday, saying it was a “mistake”. “I think it was terrible. And I was told they made a mistake. But I think it’s a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing,” the US president told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday evening.

The Kremlin said on Sunday contacts with U.S. President Donald Trump's team were moving ahead very well but that it was too early to expect instant results due to the level of damage done to relations under Trump's predecessor Joe Biden.