KYIV: Ukraine on Tuesday slammed the lack of an “adequate reaction” from the world to Russia’s deadly strikes on its soil, after an attack on Kyiv killed at least 14 people.
“This is how Russia fights — it kills civilians in ordinary homes, deliberately,” Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak said in a social media post.
“This is how autocracies fight.... A nuclear power can simply kill civilians in homes, refuse to cease fire, and not receive the necessary reaction from the civilized world. Why? And how many more of our people and children must die?“
His comments came after one of the biggest attacks on the Ukrainian capital in the three-plus-year war killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens.
Some 27 locations in Kyiv were hit, including residential buildings, educational institutions and infrastructure, according to Interior Minister Igor Klymenko.
Moscow has kept up its attacks on Ukraine despite efforts by the United States to broker a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy had been hoping to speak with his US counterpart Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, but the US leader cut short his stay as Israel pounded Iran.
Ukraine slams lack of ‘adequate’ world reaction to Russian strikes
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Ukraine slams lack of ‘adequate’ world reaction to Russian strikes
- “More strikes by Russian drones on residential buildings in Kyiv,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram
EU should consider forming combined military force: defense chief
- Kubilius floated creating a “powerful, standing ‘European military force’ of 100,000 troops” that could eventually replace US forces
- Trump has heightened fears among NATO allies over Washington’s reliability by insisting he wants to take over Greenland
BRUSSELS: EU countries should weigh whether to set up a combined military force that could eventually replace US troops in Europe, the bloc’s defense chief said Sunday.
EU defense commissioner Andrius Kubilius floated creating a “powerful, standing ‘European military force’ of 100,000 troops” as a possible option to better protect the continent.
“How will we replace the 100,000-strong American standing military force, which is the back-bone military force in Europe?” he asked in a speech in Sweden.
The suggestion comes as US President Donald Trump has heightened fears among NATO allies over Washington’s reliability by insisting he wants to take over Greenland.
Worries over Trump’s commitment to Europe have already spurred countries to step up efforts to bolster their militaries in the face of the threat posed by Russia.
Ideas about establishing a central European army have floated around for years but have largely failed to gain traction as nations are wary of relinquishing control over their militaries.
The US has pushed its European allies to increasingly take over responsibility for their own security, and raised the prospect it could shift forces from Europe to focus on China.
“In such times, we should not run away from the most pressing questions on our institutional defense readiness,” said Kubilius, a former Lithuanian prime minister.
In his speech Kubilius also advocated for the creation of a “European Security Council” of key powers — including potentially Britain — that could help the continent take decisions over its own defense quicker.
“The European Security Council could be composed of key permanent members, along with several rotational members,” he said.
“In total around 10-12 members, with the task to discuss the most important issues in defense.”
He said the first focus of such a body should be trying to change the dynamics in the war in Ukraine to ensure that Kyiv does not end up losing.
“We need to have a clear answer — how is the EU going to change that scenario?,” he said.
“This is the reason why we need to have a European Security Council now!“
