Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western allies on Thursday to send a “strong joint signal” to Vladimir Putin, after yesterday’s deadly attack.
Russia has rained down aerial strikes on Ukrainian cities despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a ceasefire and even as Moscow talks up the importance of ending the conflict.
The latest attack saw Russian missiles and drones rip through buildings in the Ukrainian capital, blasting a five-storey crater in an apartment block and leaving four children among the dead, authorities said.
In a virtual meeting after the strikes, Zelensky urged European allies to “keep the pressure” on the Russian president to bring him to the negotiating table, his office said in a statement.
“Putin has not done what he said. It’s time to move. We need a strong joint signal,” Zelensky said, adding: “Only at the level of leaders can the war truly be ended.”
He pressed attendees—including the leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Denmark—to detail the guarantees they would give to maintain peace in Ukraine after the war, the statement said.
“Europe must not miss this opportunity—it should define real foundations for joint action,” Zelensky said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump “was not happy about the news, but not surprised either.”
The European Union mission, a British government cultural building and two media outlets’ offices were also damaged, setting off international protests.
