BRUSSELS — European defense ministers convened in Copenhagen to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, following a recent Russian airstrike on Kyiv that resulted in 23 fatalities and significant damage to a European diplomatic facility. The attack has intensified calls among European leaders for stronger actions against Russia, including the seizure of frozen assets, additional sanctions, and increased military support for Ukraine.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, emphasized the need for pressure on Russia, stating, "Everybody understands that, considering how (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is mocking the peace efforts, the only thing that works is pressure." The ministers are also expected to discuss the potential deployment of European troops in Ukraine to ensure security and oversee a peace process that currently appears unlikely.

The airstrike on Kyiv saw two missiles land dangerously close to an EU diplomatic mission, damaging windows and doors but fortunately causing no injuries. In response, the EU summoned the Russian envoy in Brussels. Additionally, the U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss the airstrikes at the request of Ukraine and five European council members: Britain, France, Slovenia, Denmark, and Greece.

Meanwhile, two top Ukrainian envoys are set to meet with representatives of the Trump administration regarding mediation efforts. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed criticism of both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, noting that Trump was "not happy about this news, but he was also not surprised." Leavitt pointed out that Ukraine has recently conducted successful attacks on Russia's oil industry, suggesting that both sides may not be ready to end the conflict. "The president wants it to end, but the leaders of these two countries … must want it to end as well," she said.

During the Copenhagen meeting, Kallas indicated that the defense ministers would explore options for increasing sanctions on Russia and enhancing military supplies to Ukraine. They will also discuss European contributions to postwar security guarantees, which may include EU training missions in Ukraine once a ceasefire is established. Kallas called for stricter sanctions targeting Russia's economic resources, stating, "We are discussing today how to change the mandate of those missions in order to be ready after any peace agreement is put in place."

On Thursday, the United States approved an $825 million arms sale to Ukraine, which will include extended-range missiles and other equipment to strengthen its defense capabilities. Lithuania’s defense minister, Dovilė Šakalienė, remarked that the recent attack on Kyiv illustrates that hopes for peace are "naive," accusing Putin of stalling for time to continue his military actions. She urged Europe to take a firmer stance against Russia, suggesting the seizure of frozen Russian assets as a potential measure. "Over 200 billion of Russian assets would be extremely helpful in both pumping this money in the Ukrainian defense industry and buying American weapons," she stated.

Simon Harris, Ireland’s defense minister, echoed the need for increased pressure on Russia, stating, "It’s imperative that those of us in the European Union now consider further sanctions, what more measures can be taken to increase the pressure on Russia to end this brutal and aggressive war on Ukraine and the huge impact that that’s having on civilians."

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen is set to begin a tour of EU nations bordering Russia and Belarus, which will include visits to arms factories and border installations, starting in Latvia.