Russian missiles struck the heart of the Ukrainian city of Sumy as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, killing at least 34 people, officials said, in the second large-scale attack to claim civilian lives in just over a week.

The two ballistic missiles hit around 10:15 a.m., officials said. Images from the scene showed lines of black body bags on the side of the road, while more bodies were seen wrapped in foil blankets among the debris. Video footage also showed fire crews fighting to extinguish the shells of burned-out cars among the rubble from damaged buildings.

The next round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program will be held in Rome, the Dutch foreign minister and a second diplomatic source said Monday.

Dutch minister Caspar Veldkamp said at an EU meeting that the talks will take place in the Italian capital, while two diplomats based in the city confirmed that information and said they would happen on Saturday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Moscow, Russian state agencies said Monday, citing the foreign ministry.

"We are expecting Iranian colleagues, talks with Sergei Lavrov as well as meetings with Russian officials are planned," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, after Iran announced that its top diplomat was heading to Moscow later in the week.

The United States wants a nuclear agreement "as soon as possible", Iran said after rare talks on Saturday, as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens military action if they fail to reach a deal.

The long-term adversaries, who have not had diplomatic relations for more than 40 years, are seeking a new nuclear deal after Trump pulled out of an earlier agreement during his first term in 2018.

U.S.-Iran talks on Saturday in Oman marked a "step forward" between the two adversaries, the White House said, describing discussions including President Donald Trump's regional envoy as "positive and constructive."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday his country seeks a "fair and honorable" deal with the United States, hours before the start of talks between the two sides.

The United States and Iran begin high-stakes talks on Tehran's nuclear program on Saturday, with President Donald Trump threatening military action should they fail to produce a new deal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin began talks with U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff in Saint Petersburg on Friday, the Kremlin said.

Moscow released footage of Putin greeting Witkoff and earlier said the pair would discuss the Ukraine conflict, but that no breakthrough was expected.

European countries vowed Friday to sends billions of dollars in further funding to help Ukraine keep fighting Russia's invasion, as a U.S. envoy pursued peace efforts in a trip to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid growing questions about the Kremlin's willingness to stop the more than three-year war.

After chairing a meeting of Ukraine's Western backers in Brussels, British Defense Secretary John Healey said that new pledges of military aid totaled over 21 billion euros ($24 billion), "a record boost in military funding for Ukraine, and we are also surging that support to the frontline fight."

China announced Friday that it will raise tariffs on U.S. goods from 84% to 125% — the latest salvo in an escalating trade war between the world's two largest economies that has rattled markets and raised fears of a global slowdown.

While U.S. President Donald Trump paused import taxes this week for other countries, he raised tariffs on China and they now total 145%. China has denounced the policy as "economic bullying" and promised countermeasures. The new tariffs begin Saturday.