European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday she spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump following Russia’s massive overnight strike on Kyiv that killed at least 18 people and damaged the EU’s diplomatic mission in the city.
Von der Leyen wrote on X that she called Zelensky first and then Trump “after the massive strike on Kyiv which also hit our EU offices.”
“Putin must come to the negotiating table,” she said. “We must secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine with firm and credible security guarantees that will turn the country into a steel porcupine. Europe will fully play its part. Our defense instrument SAFE, for example, will be important in strengthening the brave Ukrainian armed forces.”
Von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels that two missiles exploded within 50 meters of the EU delegation. She said she had spoken with the bloc’s deputy ambassador in Kyiv and was relieved that no staff were injured, though photos released by EU officials showed blown-out windows and debris inside offices.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc summoned Russia’s envoy in Brussels over the strike, warning on X: “No diplomatic mission should ever be a target.”
Von der Leyen said the attack was “another grim reminder” of the need to keep maximum pressure on Moscow, including tightening sanctions and moving ahead with plans to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. EU countries currently use interest from those assets, estimated at €2.5 billion to €3 billion annually, to fund weapons and reconstruction.
Earlier Thursday, she accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of refusing to end what she called “terror” against Ukrainian civilians. She also announced she would begin a tour Friday of seven EU countries bordering Russia and Belarus.
Russia launched a massive overnight assault on Ukraine’s capital early Thursday, Aug. 28, firing ballistic and cruise missiles, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and waves of Iranian-made Shahed drones in one of the deadliest strikes on Kyiv in months.
The attack set fires across the city, ripped through residential neighborhoods, and killed at least 18 people, including three children aged 2, 14, and 17, Ukrainian officials said. At least 45 others were wounded, with the casualty toll expected to rise as rescue operations continued.
A deadly Russian missile strike on Kyiv shows Moscow has no interest in “real diplomacy,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media following the strike.
“Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table. It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the war,” Zelensky said on social media.