The UK and the EU summoned their Russian ambassadors after Russia launched a significant drone and missile assault on Kyiv, resulting in at least 18 fatalities and significant damage to both the EU’s mission building and the British Council offices in the Ukrainian capital.
The strikes caused extensive destruction, collapsing a five-story building and adversely affecting others as rescue teams worked to sift through the debris in search of victims. Among those killed were at least three children, one of whom was just three years old, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, who also declared Friday a day of mourning for those lost.
This assault marks the largest on Kyiv since President Trump’s recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Following their meeting, the Kremlin appears to have stalled on any potential peace negotiations, continuing its attacks on Ukraine.
The Russian military reportedly deployed 598 drones and 31 missiles in the assault, which included nine ballistic missiles, as per Ukraine’s air force reports. Ukrainian officials managed to intercept 563 drones and 26 missiles, although 13 sites were directly hit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of a strong global response, stressing that Russia must cease its ongoing conflict. He advocated for robust new sanctions against Russia, stating that the Kremlin only responds to strength and pressure. “For every strike, Moscow must feel the consequences,” he noted.
The Russian ambassador in the UK, Andrey Kelin, was called in by the Foreign Office in London following this major attack, as confirmed by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who stated that such violence must come to an end.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas also summoned the Russian envoy in Brussels, asserting that no diplomatic mission should ever be targeted. The EU delegation building suffered damage in the strikes, with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemning the assault and calling for Russia to engage in genuine peace negotiations.
Von der Leyen expressed a desire for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, emphasizing the need for credible security guarantees. She stated that Europe is committed to playing its role in this endeavor.
The EU Commission president spoke with both Zelensky and Trump following the attacks. The White House has been contacted for comments on the situation.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the damage to the British Council’s building in Kyiv, accusing Putin of endangering children and undermining peace efforts.
Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, criticized Russia’s recent missile and drone attack, labeling the targets as civilian areas rather than military installations. He stated that these attacks threaten the peace process that Trump is attempting to pursue.
In response to allegations of targeting civilians, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia’s operations are a continuation of a “special military operation” and remarked that Ukraine has struck against Russian infrastructure.
After the Anchorage meeting, Trump expressed desire to facilitate talks between Putin and Zelensky. However, Russia has thus far rejected this and dismissed a European-led initiative for security guarantees that suggested NATO peacekeeping forces.
Russian officials have questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, which Trump dismissed as mere rhetoric. “It doesn’t matter what they say. Everybody’s posting. It’s all nonsense,” he stated during a Cabinet meeting.
