European leaders pledge to support Ukraine in face of Russian aggression

 

Following Russia's massive airstrike, European officials vowed to stand with Ukraine for the long term. 

Here's what some of them are saying:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would continue to support Ukraine "as long as necessary".

“We have stood with Ukraine since the first day of Russia's aggressive war,” he said. “With financial, humanitarian and military assistance amounting to approximately €85 billion ($94 billion).”

“We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. And now we are opening the door to the EU to our friend and neighbor,” von der Leyen said.

The latest proposed package of EU aid to Ukraine was blocked by Hungary earlier this month, but most members are exploring the possibility of using different mechanisms to continue financial aid to Ukraine.

After an EU summit this month, von der Leyen said, "We are certainly working very hard for an outcome where the 27 member states are in agreement."

He said that in case consensus is not reached, work is also going on on possible options.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the latest sweeping Russian attacks on Ukraine show that Russian President Vladimir Putin will "stop at nothing" to achieve his goal of "destroying freedom and democracy."

"We will not let him win," Sunak, formerly of X, said in a post on Twitter. "We must stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," he said.

Sunak was responding to a post on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's -Attacks were carried out targeting the Metropolitan Mall. Story residential buildings, private houses and other structures.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell reiterated that the EU would stand with Ukraine "as long as necessary".

“Overnight, Russia launched one of the largest attacks against cities and populations since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This was another cowardly and indiscriminate targeting of schools, a metro station and a hospital,” he wrote on X.

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs condemned Russia's "terror tactics in Ukraine".

In a statement on Friday, the ministry said: "Russia is pursuing its tactics of terror aimed at destroying Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in order to weaken the resilience of the Ukrainian population in this second winter of the conflict."

France pledged its continued support to Ukraine and promised to provide the war-torn country with "the necessary assistance to enable it to defend its legitimate defence".

Moldova's President Maia Sandu said Friday that Russia's latest attack on Ukraine "underscores the urgent need" to boost Ukraine's air defenses.

"I am deeply disturbed by Russia's massive air strikes on Ukrainian cities today. My thoughts are with all those affected by this brutal war this morning and every day," Sandu said in a post.

"Today's aggression underscores the urgent need to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities to protect lives," he said.