In response, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that bloc will maintain the ‘maximum pressure’ about Russia and said missiles are ‘dark reminder of what is at stake’
The president of the European Commission, assured this Thursday (28) that the It will maintain the “maximum pressure” about Russia with more sanctions after the Russian attack with missiles that affected the community delegation in Kiev. “Last night’s attack occurred very close to the diplomatic mission, the representation of our union. Two missiles impacted 50 meters from the delegation within 20 seconds. This is another dark reminder of what is at stake,” Von Der Leyen said in a brief statement to the press without answering questions.
German policy said it was “outraged” with the Russian attack on Kiev that affected the EU offices, “the attack with more deadly missiles and drones against the capital since July.” “It was also an attack against our delegation,” said Von Der Leyen, while showing photographs of an office and a ruined building and guaranteed that none of the EU employees had been injured after talking to the assistant ambassador.
“We are exerting the maximum pressure on Russia. This means hardening our sanctions regime. Soon we will present our 19th hard sanctions package,” he said. For von der Leyen, this attack demonstrates that Kremlin “will not end up for anything to terrorize Ukraine, blindly killing civilians, men, women and children, and even attacking the European Union.” In addition to preparing new sanctions, he stressed that they are “advancing” work to use frozen Russian assets in order to “contribute to the defense and reconstruction of Ukraine.”
“And, of course, we are ensuring firm and unshakable support to Ukraine, our neighbor, partner, friend and future member,” he added. Der Leyen said it will travel to the seven Member States “which are reinforcing and protecting our external borders with Russia and Belarus.” “I want to express them all the solidarity of the EU and share the progress we are doing in the construction of a solid European defense industry, especially through our Safe joint defense instrument,” he said.
From tomorrow and until Monday, Von Der Leyen will visit Latonia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Romania, the European Commission said in a statement. In turn, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security, Kaja Kallas, wrote on social networks that “no diplomatic mission should be a target” and announced that, due to the attack, the Russian envoy in Brussels called on. Previously, European Council Chairman António Costa had declared himself “horrified” on Thursday with the attack in which he considered that the EU office in Kiev was “deliberately” damaged.
“The EU will not be intimidated. Russian aggression only reinforces our resolution of being next to Ukraine and its people,” added the Portuguese politician. Community spokesman Anitta Hipper later confirmed during the European Commission’s daily press conference that the diplomatic delegation remains open and “fully operational.” The number of civilians killed by last night’s Russian attack against Kiev rose to 14, including three minors, the Ukrainian authorities said on Thursday.
*With information from EFE
