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

The pinnacle of the European Union’s government 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 had been killed and dozens extra wounded within the bombardment, Ukrainian officers mentioned.

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

In a strongly worded assertion, von der Leyen mentioned 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 aimed toward bringing an finish to the battle 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 international coverage chief Kaja Kallas mentioned they confirmed “a deliberate option to escalate and mock peace efforts”.

Moscow had chosen “ballistics as an alternative of the negotiating desk”, mentioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who reiterated the necessity for “new, powerful sanctions” on Russia.

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

An EU spokeswoman mentioned 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 mentioned Russia’s ambassador to London, Andrey Kelin, would be summoned to the international workplace.

Ukrainian forces mentioned Russia had fired virtually 600 drones and greater than 30 ballistic and cruise missiles – the largest assault on the capital this month.

Lots of these killed in Kyiv had 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 the block of flats, inflicting it to break down.

Throughout the morning diggers eliminated rubble and rescue employees clambered on high of elements of the constructing that had been nonetheless burning searching for survivors.

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

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

The wave of missiles got here after greater than 100,000 Ukrainian houses had been left with out energy by Russian drone assaults on power infrastructure on Wednesday. One other 60,000 shoppers had been left with out energy within the central Vinnytsia area within the newest assaults, officers mentioned.

Zelensky mentioned the assault on Ukraine’s cities and communities was a transparent response from the Kremlin to everybody who had referred to 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, mentioned its workplace was severely broken and can be closed to guests till additional discover.

Ursula von der Leyen mentioned 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 subsequent few days.

The Fee mentioned she would go to Latvia and Finland on Friday earlier than happening 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 convey an finish to the battle, 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 likelihood 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 mentioned they’d focus on “navy, political and financial parts of safety ensures” for Ukraine.

Ukraine is working with its European allies on ensures aimed toward stopping any future Russian assault within the occasion of a peace deal. Zelensky had talks in Kyiv this week with the pinnacle 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 “highway to nowhere”.