What happened in Russia’s latest deadly attack on Kyiv and why are European leaders outraged?
On Thursday morning, Russia launched one of its deadliest assaults on Ukraine’s capital in months, leaving 19 people dead and at least 48 injured. Ukrainian officials confirmed it was the most lethal strike on Kyiv since July.
The attack damaged part of the European Union delegation office in Kyiv, sparking furious reactions across Europe and fueling accusations that Moscow is undermining peace talks.
International reaction
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Moscow of “sabotaging peace talks.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Russia had “shown its true face again.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that Brussels would summon Russia’s envoy, stating: “No diplomatic mission should ever be a target.”
U.S. special envoy on Ukraine Keith Kellogg condemned the “egregious attacks,” saying they threatened the fragile peace negotiations President Donald Trump has been pursuing.
Russia’s response
Moscow denied targeting diplomatic buildings, claiming instead that its strikes hit military facilities and parts of Ukraine’s defense industry using long-range precision weapons.
"All designated objects were hit," Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine’s stance
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately rejecting diplomacy:
“These Russian missiles and attack drones are a clear response to everyone calling for a ceasefire. Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table.”
Ukraine has since requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting and announced that two of its senior envoys will meet with Trump administration officials in Washington on Friday to discuss U.S. mediation.
The bigger picture
This latest bombardment comes just weeks after Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska, which was billed as a step toward peace. Instead, the attack has cast new doubts on whether Moscow is genuinely willing to negotiate—or simply using talks as cover while escalating militarily.
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