The spokesperson for the European External Action Service, Anitta Hipper, announced on Tuesday 26 May that the EU was maintaining “its presence and operations in Kyiv”, a day after Russian warnings calling on foreigners to leave the Ukrainian capital, describing these “threats” as an “unacceptable escalation”.
“The EU has said it would keep its diplomatic presence in Kyiv unchanged, despite Russia’s warnings. Well, apparently, they have diplomats to spare and need to reduce staff numbers”, reacted the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev.
During the night from Saturday 23 to Sunday 24 May, Russia launched more than 600 drones and 90 missiles, including Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, at Ukraine.
“We have seen that Russia is only seeking to sow panic by making these threats. It wants to spread fear and isolation in Ukraine and elsewhere, but our message is clear: this will not work”, Mrs Hipper pledged. She announced that the EU had summoned the Russian Chargé d’affaires, calling for strikes against civilians to stop and for genuine peace negotiations to begin, starting with a full and unconditional ceasefire.
“Any deliberate international attack against civilians and non-military targets constitutes a war crime. All commanders, perpetrators and accomplices to these serious violations of international humanitarian law will be held accountable for their actions”, she added.
Sunday, European leaders condemned the Russian attacks, described by the President of the European Council, António Costa, as a “reckless escalation” and as a “ruthless display of brutality”.
“These are abhorrent acts of terror meant to kill as many civilians as possible. The use of Oreshnik ballistic missiles is a political scare-tactic and reckless nuclear-brinkmanship”, added the High Representative, Kaja Kallas.
“Terror against civilians is not strength. It’s despair”, judged the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
She promised that the EU would provide additional support to Ukraine to strengthen its air defence systems, while Mrs Kallas recalled that European Foreign Ministers will discuss this week ways to step up the pressure on Russia. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)