EU Leaders Respond to Deadliest Missile Strike on Kyiv Since July
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU will soon approve a 19th package of sanctions against Russia and is discussing the use of frozen Russian assets for military support in response to Russia's overnight missile attack on Kyiv.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to European Pravda.
In an emergency statement on August 28 in Brussels, dedicated to Russia's night attack on Kyiv, Ursula von der Leyen announced the preparation of the 19th package of sanctions against Russia.
“I am outraged by the attack on Kyiv, which also affected our offices. It was the deadliest missile attack on the capital since July,” she said.
Von der Leyen stressed that it is precisely because of such actions by Russia that the EU continues to exert maximum pressure on Moscow and tighten sanctions.
In addition, the President of the European Commission announced that work is continuing in parallel on frozen Russian assets in order to use them for the defense of Ukraine and the restoration of destroyed infrastructure.
This decision reflects the EU's desire to combine economic pressure with concrete support for Ukraine in the face of ongoing aggression.
In addition, in response to Russia's nighttime attack, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that such actions cannot go unanswered.
"Last night we once again experienced in a terrible way how Russia attacked and bombed Kyiv, civilians died, children died, and the European Union delegation was also attacked. And that cannot remain without consequences," Wadephul told reporters.
Wadephul declined to provide details of possible actions, noting that Germany wants to demonstrate the seriousness of its intentions to respond. He also welcomed US President Donald Trump's efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict in Ukraine, while stressing that Vladimir Putin has not yet sufficiently complied with these initiatives.
The Minister expressed his conviction that the US would seriously consider further sanctions against Russia, and that Europe would remain resolute in its support for a clear sanctions policy as a means of exerting pressure on Moscow.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal also condemned Russia’s recent attacks on civilians in Ukraine, emphasizing that Putin is not pursuing peace.
"The only language Putin understands is pressure. That means tougher sanctions and unwavering military support for Ukraine," he said.
The Gaze previously informed that a massive overnight Russian missile and drone assault on the Ukrainian capital left at least twelve people dead, including children, and inflicted damage on the European Union’s diplomatic mission in Kyiv.