BRUSSELS, May 26 — The European Union (EU) summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires to the EU on Tuesday after Russia warned of further strikes on the Ukrainian capital and urged foreign citizens and diplomats to leave Kiev, European Commission foreign affairs spokesperson Anitta Hipper said Tuesday.
Speaking at a daily press briefing, Hipper described Russia’s remarks as “unacceptable.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that Russian armed forces were carrying out “consistent and systematic strikes” on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities in Kiev following a Ukrainian drone attack in Starobelsk in the Luhansk region. The ministry also urged foreign citizens, including diplomatic personnel and staff of international organizations, to leave Kiev as soon as possible, and advised local residents to avoid military and administrative infrastructure facilities in the Ukrainian capital.
Hipper said the EU would maintain its presence and operations in Kiev.
“What we will do on our side is to continue our support to Ukraine that needs air defence and further financial support,” she said.
Hipper also said EU foreign ministers will hold an informal meeting in Cyprus in the coming days, during which they will discuss ways to increase international pressure on Russia.
On the same day, Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russian Ambassador to Norway Nikolay Viktorovich Korchunov for talks.
“We summoned the ambassador to protest the threats against foreign personnel in Ukraine made by Russia in recent days,” Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a release. (Namibia Daily News/ Xinhua)
