On Thursday, residential areas in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk were hit by Russian missiles for the second time in 24 hours. This occurred as top European Union officials held talks with the Ukrainian government in Kyiv as the war with Russia approached its first anniversary. The latest strikes in Kramatorsk injured at least five civilians and hit residential buildings, a children’s clinic, and a school. The city is a central hub for the Ukrainian military in the east.
On Wednesday, a Russian missile hit an apartment building in Kramatorsk, killing at least three people and wounding 21 others. Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Von der Leyen praised Ukraine’s “brilliant application” for European Union membership and announced that by February 24th, the EU plans to adopt a 10th package of sanctions against Russia.
The EU has provided 50 billion euros ($55 billion) in assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s war, and the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine will be established in The Hague for the purpose of collecting evidence of war crimes. Ukraine’s anti-corruption drive has comforted Von der Leyen, as stamping out corruption is crucial for joining the EU.
Zelenskyy has aimed at corrupt officials, and several high-ranking officials were dismissed. Ukraine is undergoing reforms so it can potentially join the EU, and the West channels billions of dollars to help Kyiv fight Moscow’s troops. Kyiv is asking for more Western military aid, including fighter jets. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov says Kyiv expects Russia to “attempt something” on the February 24th anniversary. The government is urging its partners to be ready as fast as possible.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says American aid focuses on increasing Ukraine’s military capabilities by sending artillery, armor, and air defense and training Ukrainian troops. However, U.S. President Joe Biden has ruled out providing F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warns that the strategy would backfire by prompting Moscow to ensure that potential Russian targets were out of range. Lavrov says Moscow would like to see the war end but noted that the length of the conflict was less important than its desired outcome: to protect Russian territory and “people who want to remain part of the Russian culture.”
