EU team arrives in Ukraine as missiles drop and Russia prepares massive attacks
- A deadly missile dropped as senior EU policy commissioners arrived in Kyiv to discuss how to bring Ukraine’s legislation into line with EU standards
- Moscow is organising massive new strikes on targets by the Russian Black Sea fleet, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern military command said
A Russian missile destroyed a flat building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, killing at least three people before top European Union officials arrived in Kyiv for talks seen as key to Ukraine’s pivot towards the West.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed more anti-corruption measures as authorities continued raids ahead of the meetings with the EU, reflecting his determination to show that Kyiv can be a reliable steward of billions of dollars in aid.
“We are here together to show that the EU stands by Ukraine as firmly as ever. And to deepen further our support and cooperation,” the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, tweeted as she arrived in Kyiv by train on Thursday along with more than a dozen other senior EU officials.
However, unwilling to admit a country at war, the EU is set to dash Ukraine’s hopes of being swiftly allowed membership, underlining the need for more anti-corruption measures.
The team from Brussels will discuss sending more arms and money to Ukraine, increasing access for Ukrainian products to the EU, helping Kyiv cover energy needs, strengthening sanctions on Russia and prosecuting Russian leaders for the war.
The EU says it has already earmarked almost 60 billion euros in aid to Ukraine but Kyiv’s membership bid is expected to take years.
