BRUSSELS (AP) – European defense ministers will hold a meeting in Copenhagen to discuss the war in Ukraine a day after a Russian air attack on Kiev killed 23 people and severely damaged European diplomatic compounds.
Anger over the attack pushed European military political leaders for stronger measures against Moscow, including denouncement of Russia before meeting Friday, seizing frozen assets, placing further sanctions and increasing support for Ukrainian military and European Union membership. They will also discuss the deployment of European troops in Ukraine to ensure security and monitor the seemingly distant peace America’s efforts to mediate peace Between Ukraine and Russia It will be displayed stalled.
“Everyone understands that, considering how (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is laughing at peace efforts.
The two missiles landed about 50 metres from Kiev’s EU diplomatic mission, shattering office windows and doors, but were not injured there. The EU summoned Russian envoys in Brussels over the attack.
The UN Security Council had scheduled an emergency meeting on air strikes against Ukraine on Friday afternoon at the request of five Council members of Europe, Ukraine, Britain, France, Slovenia, Denmark and Greece. Two of Ukraine’s top envoys were scheduled to meet with the Trump administration on mediation on Friday.
White House press chief Karoline Leavitt criticized both Putin and Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky after the attack on Kiev on Thursday.
She said Trump “is not happy with the news, but he wasn’t surprised either.”
Leavitt said Ukraine has launched an effective attack on Russia’s oil industry in recent weeks.
“Perhaps neither side of this war is ready to finish it on its own,” Levitt said. “The president wants to end it, but the leaders of both of these countries… want to end it.”
In Copenhagen, Karas said defense ministers from across the 27 bloc would discuss the rise in Russian sanctions, strengthening the defense supply to Ukrainian army and strengthening Europe’s contribution to postwar security assurances.
Calling for severe sanctions targeting Russia’s economic lifelines, Crows said:
On Thursday, the US approved it $825 million weapons sale to Ukraine This includes extended range missiles and associated equipment to enhance its defensive capabilities.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Doville Shakarien said Thursday’s attack on Kiev was “naive” as hope for peace now, and “it shows that everything Putin is really stagnant and actually buys cheaply to mimic the imitation of a willingness that might actually kill more people and stop his own murderous behavior.”
She said Europe must deal with Russia more forcefully, as if it seized Russia’s frozen assets.
“It’s actually one of the forces we haven’t used enough yet,” she said. “More than 20 billion Russian assets are very useful in both pumping this money in the Ukrainian defense industry and purchasing American weapons.”
Ireland’s Minister of Defense Simon Harris said more must be done to end the war on Russia.
“It is essential that we in the European Union now consider further sanctions, and more steps can be taken to increase pressure on Russia to end this brutal and offensive war.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen began tours of EU countries adjacent to Russia or Belarus on Friday, including scheduled visits to arms factories and border facilities. She starts in Latvia.