Luxembourg: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Monday called on EU governments to provide urgent support to the cities of Sumy and Kryvyi Rih after Russian missile attacks, urging stronger air defense assistance and increased pressure on Moscow.
According to Anadolu Agency, Sybiha addressed the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg via video link, urging governments and municipalities across Europe to consider direct aid to the affected cities. Russian missiles struck the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, resulting in 34 casualties. This attack followed an earlier missile strike on April 4 in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, which claimed at least 19 lives.
Sybiha highlighted the need for urgent military aid to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities, including new systems, launchers, missiles, and spare parts. He also suggested European investment in Ukraine's strategic air defense development program. Additionally, Sybiha outlined Ukraine's broader military needs, such as ammunition, long-range missiles, armored vehicles, combat aviation, drones, and engineering equipment.
He expressed appreciation for initiatives led by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and support from the Czech-led ammunition coalition. Sybiha also praised the ReArm Europe initiative launched by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Furthermore, Sybiha called for a complete ban on Russian energy imports, sanctions on the 'shadow fleet,' the use of frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine's defense and reconstruction, and new restrictions on Russia's banking, metallurgy, nuclear, and IT sectors. He emphasized Ukraine's readiness to open EU accession negotiation clusters and warned against delays, asserting that EU integration is crucial for Europe's long-term peace and stability.
'Our shared strategy toward Russia must be based not on concessions, but on strength, self-reliance, and leadership,' Sybiha stated, cautioning that 'Putin will move deeper into Europe and closer to your homes if he's not stopped in Ukraine.'