A Russian drone strike hit a passenger bus in northeastern Ukraine on Saturday, killing nine people and injuring four others, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack occurred just hours after the first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in years, with no ceasefire agreement reached. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike as a deliberate attack on civilians, calling it another war crime by Russia. The strike took place in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, where the bus was being evacuated. Ukrainian authorities released photos of the aftermath, and a mourning period was declared in Bilopillia. Local officials described the attack as a deliberate strike on civilian transport, emphasizing the civilian casualties. The incident has raised questions about the impact on ongoing peace efforts. Despite the prisoner swap agreement, Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on key conditions for ending the conflict, particularly regarding a temporary ceasefire. During the peace talks in Turkey, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a prisoner swap of 1,000 each, marking their largest such exchange to date. Both sides also discussed a ceasefire and a possible meeting between their respective heads of state. However, the negotiations ended without a truce, highlighting the deepening divide over key terms. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, having discussed the negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders of France, Germany, the U.K., and Poland, called for ‘tough sanctions’ against Moscow if it rejects a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings. Zelenskyy also met with leaders of 47 European countries in Albania, emphasizing the need for continued pressure on Russia until it is ready to end the war.