EU to discuss more international pressure on Russia after one of the most intense attacks on Ukraine 

European Council President Antonio Costa has condemned the massive Russian attacks across Ukraine over the weekend including the use of Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles, describing them as, “a ruthless display of brutality aimed at civilians and civilian infrastructure”.

The strike on Ukraine on the night of 24 May was one of the most intense since the full-scale war began. It was a combined attack involving cruise and ballistic missiles, drones and at least one Oreshnik ballistic missile. As a result, two people were killed and a further 87, including three children, were injured.

“I strongly condemn this reckless escalation. It is yet another stark reminder that Russia has no interest in engaging in meaningful peace negotiations,” Costa said on X.

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen also reacted on X, saying that Russia’s massive attack on Ukraine shows “the Kremlin’s brutality and disregard for both human life and peace negotiations”.

“Terror against civilians is not strength. It’s despair,” von der Leyen said, adding that “further support [is] on the way to reinforce its air defence systems”.

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said that “Russia hit a dead-end on the battlefield, so it terrorises Ukraine with deliberate strikes on city centres”. 

She added that the use of Oreshnik – systems designed to carry nuclear warheads – is “a political scare-tactic and reckless nuclear-brinkmanship”.

Kallas added that this week EU Foreign Ministers will discuss “how to dial up the international pressure on Russia”.

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Kallas post on X

Von der Leyen post on X 

Antonio Costa post on X