Von der Leyen Demands Putin Negotiate Amidst Kyiv Attacks and EU Office Damage

Following the extensive air strikes on Kyiv, which also impacted the EU delegation office, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate. She engaged in discussions with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address the situation. Von der Leyen reiterated Europe’s commitment to supporting Ukraine with security guarantees and defense assistance, with the goal of establishing a ‘just and lasting peace’. In a statement on social media, she underscored the necessity for Putin to come to the negotiating table and emphasized the importance of securing a lasting peace for Ukraine through reliable security assurances. Von der Leyen also announced a visit to the seven EU member states that protect the external borders with Russia and Belarus. The EU Commission chief had previously denounced the Russian air raids on Kyiv, which led to damage at the EU delegation, and advocated for an end to attacks on civilian infrastructure. Recent reports indicated that the missile attacks on Kyiv severely affected the EU delegation building, with the strikes on Wednesday night causing multiple casualties and injuries.