Kyiv Air Strikes Prompt EU Call for Putin to Negotiate

The European Union is calling for Russian President Vladimir Putin to enter negotiations following the air strikes on Kyiv that damaged the EU’s delegation office. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen communicated with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding the situation. She emphasized Europe’s continued backing of Ukraine, including security guarantees and defense support, to secure a ‘just and lasting peace’. Von der Leyen shared a message on social media, calling on Putin to negotiate and stressing the need for a just and enduring peace for Ukraine, underpinned by robust security guarantees. Additionally, she announced plans to visit the seven member states that reinforce and safeguard the EU’s external borders with Russia and Belarus. Earlier, von der Leyen condemned the Russian airstrikes on Kyiv, which impacted the EU delegation, and called for a cessation of attacks on civilian infrastructure and a return to the negotiating table. Recent reports indicated that the missile attacks on Kyiv caused significant damage to the EU delegation building, with the strikes on Wednesday night resulting in numerous casualties.