EU endorses US-initiated peace talks while not trusting Putin

The European Union supports the U.S.-initiated talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine, while being convinced that any such talks should strengthen Kyiv's position, as Putin demonstrates complete disregard for international efforts to achieve peace.

This was stated by European Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper at a midday briefing in Brussels, an Ukrinform correspondent heard.

"When it comes to the actions that Russia is showing every day, including the recent attack that have killed at least 20 civilians, including nine children, Russia is showing total disrespect for the talks and zero interest in pursuing them. That is why it is very important to ensure that we have a ceasefire, a just, comprehensive and long-asting peace. But we cannot be naive when we deal with Putin as we see his murderous attacks on a daily basis," the spokeswoman noted.

She noted that the EU supports the U.S. peace initiatives because Ukraine needs peace and a ceasefire, and no one wants peace more than the Ukrainians.

"It is very important that the peace talks do continue. But the outcome of these peace talks must strengthen Ukraine, because Putin does not respect weakness. This is why we need to put Ukraine in a position of strength. That is why we have committed to increase defense support and our capabilities in this regard," said Hipper.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on the evening of April 4, Russian troops fired a ballistic missile at a residential area of ​​Kryvyi Rih. Eighteen people were killed, including nine children, and another 75 people were injured. Late in the evening, Russian drones attacked the city, killing another person and injuring seven. On April 6, it became known that a 57-year-old victim of a missile attack on Kryvyi Rih died in hospital.