The United Nations Security Council would be holding a meeting to step up pressure on Russia after a deadly strike on the centre of Kyiv, that killed at least 21 people, including four children and wounded 48 others.The meeting, which comes at the request of President Zelenskyy and his allies including Britain, France, Slovenia, Denmark and Greece, will take place at 10 PM on Friday (local time).Two of Ukraine’s top envoys are also expected to meet officials from the Trump administration the same day to discuss mediation efforts.The announcement was made by Ukrainian minister of foreign affairs Andrii Sybiha on X.“At Ukraine’s request, supported by its partners, the UN Security Council will convene an emergency meeting today, August 29, at 10 PM Kyiv time. The meeting is in response to another massive wave of Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.”Talking about the devastation caused due to the strikes, he said, “The strikes have resulted in dozens of civilian casualties, including children. We call on the Security Council members to use this meeting to express support for Ukraine in the face of Russian terror and increase pressure on the Russian aggressor. Only pressure, including new tough sanctions, can force Moscow to stop imitating diplomacy and engage in meaningful efforts to end the war.”The bombardment, which took place early Thursday was the first major Russian attack on Kyiv in weeks and one of the largest since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. According to Kyiv city officials, the strikes damaged European Union diplomatic offices, as well as the British Council building.Ukraine’s Air Force said that Russia had launched 598 strike drones and decoys and 31 missiles of different types across the country, with Kyiv bearing the brunt of the attack. At least 33 locations in all 10 districts of the capital were hit or damaged by falling debris. Nearly 100 buildings were damaged, including a shopping mall, while thousands of windows were blown out across the city.Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s city administration, confirmed that four children aged between 2 and 17 were among the dead. He warned the toll could rise as search and rescue teams continued to comb through rubble on Thursday evening.European officials voiced strong condemnation. European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said two strikes landed just 50 metres from the EU Mission to Ukraine building in Kyiv. “No diplomatic mission should ever be a target. In response, we are summoning the Russian envoy in Brussels,” the EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said, as quoted by AP.The Kremlin said Russia remained open to peace talks despite the bombardment. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow was showing no genuine commitment. “Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table,” he wrote on X. “We expect a response from everyone in the world who has called for peace but now more often stays silent rather than taking principled positions.”Thursday’s assault came just weeks after US President Donald Trump met Vladimir Putin in Alaska to explore ways to end the three-year war.
