Russia hits British Council and EU places of work in lethal strikes on Kyiv – Europe stay

Sky Information is reporting that the Russian ambassador to the UK shall be summoned by the International Workplace over the past evening’s large-scale assault that “severely damaged” the British Council’s workplace in Kyiv.

We are going to convey you extra on this if/after we get an official affirmation.

In a separate assertion on X, British Council Ukraine mentioned that one in every of its guards was injured within the in a single day strike that severely broken its constructing and stays in hospital.

In the meantime, the Kremlin claimed it was nonetheless all in favour of pursuing peace talks with Ukraine – regardless of its large in a single day assault on Kyiv.

Russian forces had been persevering with to focus on Ukrainian navy and military-related infrastructure, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned, as reported by Reuters and AFP.

He has repeatedly claimed, with out providing any proof, that Russia doesn’t intentionally goal civilians.

“The Russian armed forces are additionally finishing up their duties. As said, they proceed to strike navy and military-related infrastructure.

The strikes are profitable, the targets are being destroyed, and the particular navy operation continues.

On the identical time, Russia stays all in favour of persevering with the negotiation course of in an effort to obtain our targets by way of political and diplomatic means.”

EU’s justice spokesperson Markus Lammert supplied a bit extra mild on the EU’s discussions on what to do with frozen Russian belongings within the EU.

He defined:

“The EU all the time been clear that Russia has to pay for the damages of this conflict, and legally sound and financially viable choices should stay on the desk to compensate the damages carried out by Russia to Ukraine.

We have to proceed discussing this. However what we’re speaking about now could be the income from these belongings.

We’ve got immobilised Russia’s belongings, of which there are €210bn within the EU and we’re utilizing the income from these belongings to assist Ukraine with a €45bn G7 mortgage. This cash goes, for instance, to Ukraine’s defence business and vitality restoration, the loans will then be repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues from immobilised Russian belongings.”

Pressed on whether or not it might embody a confiscation of the Russian belongings is on the desk, the spokespeople mentioned {that a} broader dialogue on the difficulty of frozen belongings shall be held on Saturday.

EU’s international coverage chief Kaja Kallas has simply introduced in the previous couple of minutes that she spoke with EU diplomats based mostly in Kyiv after final evening’s Russian strike that hit the EU delegation.

She added that the EU shall be “summoning the Russian envoy in Brussels” to protest towards the assault.

International coverage spokesperson Anitta Hipper added a bit extra on that:

“I confirm that we will be summoning the Russian chargé d’affaires. This meeting will still take place today, so I can debrief you after that. But fact is also that no diplomatic mission should be ever [a] target to two strikes. So this is our response to this question.”

EU’s chief deputy spokesperson Arianna Podestà supplied a bit extra element on the EU’s understanding of the assault on its delegation in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Requested if the EU believes the assault was deliberate, she mentioned:

“This can be a query for Russia on what was the intention of the strike.

What is evident is that Russia strikes continually on civilian services as properly. Folks have died on this horrible assault.

In fact, now we have been in contact, the president has been in contact, with the ambassador for what issues the security of the EU workers.

However these assaults of Russia on civilians, and is simply one of many many now we have seen, additionally in different areas of Ukraine, simply on this previous couple of hours, are utterly unacceptable. By no means will they modify the resolve of the European Union in supporting Ukraine.

Our assist to Ukraine is unshakable, as all the time, and Russia’s threats, additionally by hitting our services, will change nothing in our dedication to supporting Ukraine to be ready of power now and sooner or later.”

Jakub Krupa

The European Fee’s noon briefing – held twice per week throughout summer time – is about to start out, so I’ll look out for any additional strains with response to the in a single day strikes that hit the EU delegation in Kyiv and the British Council’s Kyiv workplace, amongst others.

German international minister Johann Wadephul instructed reporters that Russian assaults on Kyiv in a single day can’t be allowed to “remain without consequences,” Reuters reported.

Talking at a press convention together with his Estonian counterpart, he declined to elaborate on what could possibly be carried out in response, saying that Germany needed to indicate it’s contemplating an additional response and that any motion could be taken collectively by the EU.

European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen has now given an additional assertion on the in a single day assaults on Kyiv.

She mentioned she was “outraged” by the assault, which affected the EU delegation to Ukraine, giving a bit extra element on “two missiles in a distance of 50 meters of the delegation within 20 seconds.”

She warned:

It exhibits that the Kremlin will cease at nothing to terrorise Ukraine.

She additionally mentioned the EU will quickly suggest a brand new bundle of sanctions towards Russia, and the bloc was “advancing the work on the Russian frozen assets to contribute to Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction.”

Standing in entrance of EU flags, she mentioned:

“I’m outraged by the assault on Kyiv additionally hitting our EU places of work.

This was the deadliest drone and missile assault on the capital since July, and as you possibly can see behind me on the display screen, it was an assault additionally on our delegation.

I simply spoke with our deputy ambassador, and I’m relieved that none of our workers had been harmed. Final evening’s assault struck in shut proximity of the diplomatic mission, the illustration of our union, two missiles hit in a distance of fifty metres of the delegation inside 20 seconds.

And that is one other grim reminder of what’s at stake. It exhibits that the Kremlin will cease at nothing to terrorise Ukraine, blindly killing civilians, males, ladies and kids, and even focusing on the European Union. That is why we’re protecting most stress on Russia.

Meaning tightening our sanctions regime. We are going to come ahead quickly with our nineteenth bundle of arduous, biting sanctions.

And in parallel, we’re advancing the work on the Russian frozen belongings to contribute to Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction. And naturally, we’re making certain sturdy, unwavering assist to Ukraine, our neighbour, associate, pal and our future member.”

The British Council’s Kyiv workplace has put out a brief assertion confirming its places of work have been “severely damaged” within the Russian assault in a single day and shall be closed “until further notice.”

It mentioned:

“Following last night’s attack on Kyiv, our British Council office has been severely damaged and will be closed to visitors until further notice. While there may be some delays in our responses, our work with our Ukrainian partners in education and culture continues. You can reach us via email.”

French president Emmanuel Macron is the most recent European chief to sentence the in a single day Russian assaults on Kyiv.

He mentioned that 629 Russian missiles and drones deployed towards Ukraine in a single evening demonstrated “Russia’s idea of peace,” calling it out as “terror and barbarism.”

Noting the assault struck civilian areas, and EU and British Council places of work, he mentioned that “France condemns these senseless and cruel attacks in the strongest possible terms.”

“Full support to the Ukrainian people, and deepest compassion for all the grieving families,” he added.