Western powers respond to Russia’s Oct. 10 barbaric attack on Ukraine

U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss is calling for an “urgent meeting of NATO leaders, ensuring allies remain united and resolute in their opposition to Putin’s behavior,” the PM’s office reported today in its press release.

She will also join a virtual meeting of G7 leaders and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky today “in the wake of Putin’s illegal annexation of four Ukrainian territories and a brutal assault on Ukrainian civilians in Kyiv and elsewhere.”

“Nobody wants peace more than Ukraine. And for our part, we must not waver one iota in our resolve to help them win [the war],” the press release reads.

Yesterday, Liz Truss spoke to President Zelensky to “condemn the recent attacks on Kyiv and the annexation of Ukrainian territories, and to reiterate the U.K.’s support”.

As Russian missiles were pouring upon Ukrainian cities yesterday, Zelensky also had calls with U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

According to the White House, Joe Biden “expressed his condemnation of Russia’s missile strikes across Ukraine, including in Kyiv, and conveyed his condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured in these senseless attacks.” He pledged to “continue providing Ukraine with the support needed to defend itself, including advanced air defense systems.”

“These attacks only further reinforce our commitment to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. Alongside our allies and partners, we will continue to impose costs on Russia for its aggression, hold Putin and Russia accountable for its atrocities and war crimes, and provide the support necessary for Ukrainian forces to defend their country and their freedom,” President Biden said later in a statement.

Emmanuel Macron expressed his “extreme concern as the strikes caused civilian casualties,” according to the Élysée Palace. He reaffirmed “France’s commitment to increasing its support for Ukraine in response to the needs expressed by Kyiv, including in terms of military equipment.”

With Olaf Scholz, whose country is currently chairing G7, Zelensky agreed to urgently call a meeting of the group at which he will report on Russia’s acts of terrorism, the Ukrainian President wrote on Twitter. The two leaders also discussed increasing the pressure on Russia and assistance in restoring damaged infrastructure in Ukraine.