European leaders outraged after Russian strikes kill 17 and damage EU’s HQ

The pinnacle of the European Union’s govt Fee, Ursula von der Leyen, has spoken of her outrage at Russia’s deadliest onslaught on Kyiv since July – which additionally broken the EU’s delegation workplace within the Ukrainian capital.

Seventeen individuals together with 4 kids have been killed and dozens extra wounded within the bombardment, Ukrainian officers stated.

A five-storey residential constructing was destroyed, and the EU mission and close by British Council have been broken.

In a strongly worded assertion, von der Leyen stated that Russian missiles struck in shut proximity to the diplomatic mission: “Two missiles hit in a distance of 50m (165ft) of the delegation inside 20 seconds.”

The in a single day assaults adopted a US-led diplomatic offensive geared toward bringing an finish to the struggle and infuriated the UK in addition to the EU.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accused Russia’s Vladimir Putin of “sabotaging hopes of peace”, whereas EU overseas coverage chief Kaja Kallas stated they confirmed “a deliberate option to escalate and mock peace efforts”.

Moscow had chosen “ballistics as a substitute of the negotiating desk”, stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who reiterated the necessity for “new, robust sanctions” on Russia.

Though the Kremlin stated Russia was “nonetheless ” in negotiations, von der Leyen stated the strikes have been “one other grim reminder” that Russia would “cease at nothing to terrorise Ukraine”, killing males, ladies and youngsters and even focusing on the EU.

An EU spokeswoman stated no diplomatic mission ought to ever be focused and the Russian cost d’affaires in Brussels was being summoned in response to the assault. The UK stated Russia’s ambassador to London, Andrey Kelin, would be summoned to the overseas workplace.

Ukrainian forces stated Russia had fired nearly 600 drones and greater than 30 ballistic and cruise missiles – the most important assault on the capital this month.

Lots of these killed in Kyiv have been within the five-storey residential constructing within the south-eastern Darnytskyi district on Kyiv’s left financial institution.

The missile that hit at round 03:00 on Thursday went straight by means of the block of flats, inflicting it to break down.

Throughout the morning diggers eliminated rubble and rescue employees clambered on high of components of the constructing that have been nonetheless burning on the lookout for survivors.

Ten individuals lived in that part of the constructing alone and authorities stated they’d not but been in a position to attain them.

Officers stated three of the youngsters killed have been aged two, 14 and 17. A number of different children have been wounded.

The wave of missiles got here after greater than 100,000 Ukrainian properties have been left with out energy by Russian drone assaults on vitality infrastructure on Wednesday. One other 60,000 customers have been left with out energy within the central Vinnytsia area within the newest assaults, officers stated.

Zelensky stated the assault on Ukraine’s cities and communities was a transparent response from the Kremlin to everybody who had known as for weeks and months “for a ceasefire and for actual diplomacy”.

European Council President António Costa said he was “horrified” by the latest Russian attacks. The British Council, which fosters cultural relations with different international locations and is housed in the identical block because the EU’s mission, stated its workplace was severely broken and could be closed to guests till additional discover.

Ursula von der Leyen stated the EU was getting ready a nineteenth package deal of sanctions on Russia and introduced she would go to seven EU member states who shared a border with Russia and its ally Belarus over the following few days.

The Fee stated she would go to Latvia and Finland on Friday earlier than occurring to Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Romania.

US President Donald Trump had hoped to organise a summit involving Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin to carry an finish to the struggle, however these efforts have thus far failed.

He first met Putin in Alaska earlier than holding talks with Zelensky and European leaders in Washington.

Ukraine’s president has backed the transfer, however the Kremlin has performed down any probability of a Putin-Zelensky summit.

Regardless of the most recent setback, US officers will maintain talks with a Ukrainian delegation in New York on Friday. Zelensky stated they might focus on “army, political and financial elements of safety ensures” for Ukraine.

Ukraine is working with its European allies on ensures geared toward stopping any future Russian assault within the occasion of a peace deal. Zelensky had talks in Kyiv this week with the top of Britain’s armed forces, Adm Sir Tony Radakin.

Russia says it won’t settle for European troops on the bottom and says discussing them with out Moscow’s involvement is a “street to nowhere”.