Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP
Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap!
European leaders have accused Vladimir Putin of undermining peace talks, after Russian missile strikes on Kyiv this week killed at least 23 people and damaged diplomatic buildings, including EU and British Council offices (9:38, 9:51, 14:00).
EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused Russia of disregard for international law and of undermining peace efforts. Her statement was endorsed by all EU member states except Hungary, which is led by Putin’s ally Viktor Orbán (15:10, 15:30, 15:36, 15:43).
French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz also condemned Russia’s attacks and delay tactics (16:52, 16:56), as they pledged to provide more air defence to Ukraine (15:53) and push for peace talks to advance or Russia face more sanctions.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that allies should consider Monday to be the deadline for Russia to agree to bilateral meeting on ending war and call for “a response” if it misses the date (14:05). Separately, he also warned that Russia was massing 100,000 troops near east Ukraine stronghold of Pokrovsk, warning of potential “offensive actions” (15:13).
Zelenskyy’s top aide, Andriy Yermak, also warned the US special envoy Steve Witkoff that Russia was “obviously prolonging hostilities,” as the pair met in New York (17:28).
Sweden joined the EU (17:44) and the UK (17:56) in summoning the Russian ambassador to “protest against Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilians” (11:51).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected].
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
British Council's Kyiv offices 'rendered unusable' by Russian strike, director says
Defence and security editor
Colm McGivern, the director of the British Council in Ukraine, said a security guard had been injured and the cultural organisation’s headquarters had been “rendered unusable” by damage from Thursday’s Russian air strikes on Kyiv.
No evidence has emerged to suggest the council was deliberately targeted by Moscow, though McGivern said “what I do know is that Russia has targeted educational and cultural infrastructure in Ukraine repeatedly”.
A neighbouring building in the city centure was struck at 5.40am and the ensuing blast wave from the explosion blew out the British Council’s windows, destroyed its ceilings and left its computers non functional, the director said.
Such was the damage that a security guard, on night watch was injured and hospitalised. The guard had to have an operation, and McGivern said “thankfully he is going to be okay”. No other employees were on the site at the time.
McGivern said that the 120 staff of the unit, 119 of whom are Ukrainian, had resolved to continue with the British Council’s cultural activities despite the loss of the premises for the foreseeable future, including supporting the Kyiv International Short Film Festival next week.
“It was another night where Ukraine has been subject to a barbaric attack,” McGivern said. “There is a palpable level of anger and colleagues are more determined than ever to do all they can, to act on the things they can control, which is strengthen the relationship with the UK”.
