On saturday, Russia launched air strikes on Kharkiv, resulting in at least six deaths and injuring 97 others. The European Union has expressed shock and condemned the attack on the residential area of Kharkiv.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s senior diplomat, labeled the incident as “shocking,” highlighting the grave toll inflicted by the Russian bombardment.
Borrell’s reaction comes amid ongoing discussions within the EU regarding the provision of Western weaponry to Ukraine.
During recent informal meetings with EU ministers, Ukrainian officials renewed their call to lift restrictions on the use of such weapons for self-defense. Borrell emphasized the urgency of these measures, stressing that they could significantly impact Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against further aggression.
In addition to condemning the air strikes, Borrell also criticized Russia’s crackdown on journalists who report truthfully about the war. He condemned the use of censorship laws to imprison those who expose Russian atrocities, underscoring the EU’s stance against such oppressive measures.
In response to the Kharkiv tragedy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the nation, calling on key allies including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
Zelenskyy urged these countries to approve long-range attacks and the provision of long-range shells and missiles to Ukraine.
He argued that removing Russian bombs from Ukrainian skies would be a crucial step in compelling Russia to seek an end to the conflict and achieve a just peace.
