European leaders renew backing for Ukraine after Russian strikes

European leaders voiced renewed support for Ukraine on Thursday after Russia launched overnight strikes that Ukrainian authorities said killed 13 people. The latest attacks prompted fresh calls for increased sanctions against Moscow, while several European governments reaffirmed their commitment to assisting Kyiv throughout the ongoing war.

EU plans additional sanctions

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc would continue increasing pressure on Russia by expanding sanctions targeting entities that support the country's military-industrial complex.

"Words of condemnation alone will not stop attacks on Kyiv. Only sustained military support for Ukraine and increased pressure on Moscow can do that," Kallas wrote on X.

She also announced that the European Union had begun distributing €6 billion from its €90 billion financial assistance package to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities. "Today, I will propose to sanction more entities supporting Russia's military-industrial complex in response to the strikes. The more Moscow attacks civilians, the more sanctions must be imposed," she said.

European capitals express solidarity

Portugal's Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as Russia's overnight attacks and reiterated its support for Ukraine, calling for an end to the conflict and the restoration of international law.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said Russia had once again targeted civilian infrastructure. "Terrible images from Kyiv. Last night, Russia once again targeted civilian infrastructure, showing a blatant disregard for human life," she wrote, while reaffirming Finland's continued support for Ukraine.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also criticized the attacks, urging Russia to end its military actions and stating that Italy would continue supporting Kyiv until a "just and lasting peace" is achieved. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide likewise condemned the strikes, saying attacks on civilians remain deeply concerning and expressing solidarity with the victims.

Cross-border attacks continue

The diplomatic reactions followed another exchange of long-range strikes between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks killed 13 people, while Russian authorities reported four civilian deaths resulting from Ukrainian drone strikes.

Moscow said its forces targeted defense industry facilities, fuel and energy infrastructure, and military airfields in and around Kyiv using precision long-range weapons and drones, describing the operation as retaliation for what it called Ukrainian attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Ukraine, meanwhile, said it had struck Russia's Lukoil Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region, along with a drone storage facility, a railway bridge and a Russian military command post.