Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is convinced that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin deliberately ordered the shelling of Kyiv to coincide with the G7 summit, aiming to portray the leaders of those countries as weak.
The ministry said this in a statement seen by Ukrinform.
“We are convinced that Putin deliberately ordered this shelling during the Group of Seven summit to make the leaders of the Group of Seven appear weak. He is deliberately demonstrating his complete disregard for international peace efforts, especially those of the United States,” the ministry said.
It noted that Russia has not taken a single constructive step toward peace. Instead, Moscow is only intensifying terror, shelling, killing civilians, attacking Ukraine’s energy system, and destroying civilian infrastructure.
All of this shows that there is no alternative to increasing pressure on the aggressor. “Tougher sanctions, in particular in the energy and banking sectors, as well as strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities will contribute to, rather than hinder, progress toward a comprehensive, just and lasting peace,” the statement reads.
Accordingly, the ministry urged its partners to strike at the Russian war machine and reduce the price cap for Russian oil from $60 to $30 per barrel and called for accelerating the supply of modern air defense systems to Ukraine, including Patriot, NASAMS, IRIS/T systems, as well as additional ammunition to protect Ukrainian sky and save lives.
The ministry also advocates for the full use and confiscation of immobilized Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s defense industry and reconstruction efforts.
“Every minute we delay tough decisions costs Ukrainian lives,” the ministry said.
The statement also condemns Putin’s attempts to portray himself as a “mediator” in the Middle East as particularly cynical.
“We remind that the criminal regimes in Moscow, Tehran and Pyongyang are working together to destabilize the situation in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region,” the statement read, adding that Russia is a destroyer of international peace and security, not a partner in its restoration.
The ministry said that Ukraine expects the Group of Seven leaders’ Summit, the EU and NATO summits to take decisive steps that will strengthen Ukraine and bring justice closer to the victory of evil, restore respect for international law in general and the UN Charter in particular.
In the early hours of June 17, Kyiv was hit in 27 locations by a combined Russian attack. Preliminary data indicate 15 people were killed and 114 injured in the attack, 68 of whom were hospitalized.
In Odesa, one person was killed and ten others were wounded.
Source: Putin deliberately ordered strike on Kyiv during G7 summit – MFA Ukraine
