Massive attack on Kyiv: a message to Europe?
At least 23 people were killed early Thursday morning in a massive Russian air attack on Kyiv. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 629 drones, hypersonic and ballistic missiles as well as cruise missiles were used. The EU delegation office and other institutions in the city centre were also badly hit. Europe's press reflects on the message behind the attack.
A warning signal
The attack was also directed against the EU, warns La Repubblica:
“The Russian bombing of the EU delegation and British Council headquarters in Kyiv was no accident. The more than 600 drones that Putin unleashed on the Ukrainian capital, causing carnage among the civilian population, were precisely aimed at material and immaterial targets. ... The first target is, of course, the illusion that there will be serious peace negotiations, which only Trump continues to nurture because he wants to avoid having to admit that his friend Putin is leading him by the nose and now has him on a tight leash. The second is clearly Europe, which has been left alone to defend Ukraine and counter Russian aggression.”
Deadly missiles instead of negotiations
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung gives its interpretation:
“The Russians themselves say they used 'high-precision weapons' on Thursday night. So we can only assume that the damage to the EU representation, the British Council and the offices of US broadcaster Radio Liberty in Kyiv was intentional. This is Putin's way of telling the West what he thinks of the latest attempts to find a negotiated solution to the war ... President Zelensky is right when he says that Russia has chosen ballistics instead of the negotiating table.”
A reaction to von der Leyen's frontline visit
Brussels correspondent Regina Laguna comments in eldiario.es:
“A red line was crossed with the attack on the EU headquarters in Kyiv. Perhaps this is Russia's reaction to von der Leyen's visit to the new imaginary front line. At least that's how it could be seen from Moscow's point of view, as the Commission President inspects her most resilient troops in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin's government. Von der Leyen's three-day trip begins in Latvia and continues to Finland, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Romania. Her visit aims to 'voice the EU's support for member states facing the challenges of sharing a border with Russia or Belarus', a statement said.”
China's role could be decisive
Political scientist Viktor Shlinchak, on the other hand, sees a signal to Beijing. He writes on Facebook:
“With today's shelling of Kyiv, Putin is showing China that he will not be dictated to by Trump. In a week's time the leader of Russian terrorism will visit Beijing. There he needs assurances that the Chinese will back him - at the very least by increasing their oil purchases. In the best case even by openly selling him weapons (under the pretext that the US is doing the same with Ukraine). As strange as it may sound, the ball is gradually rolling towards China, not the US. Because Beijing really could put this war on hold with its decisions. Or it could do the opposite and push the game forward.”