Ukraine: EU summons Russian envoy after call to leave Kyiv

Key Points:

• The EU, Germany, several UN members, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Russia's large-scale bombardment of Kyiv and Moscow's call for foreign diplomats to leave the city, viewing it as an escalation of terror and threats.
• Germany summoned Russia's ambassador, affirming continued strong support for Ukraine and denouncing attacks on civilian sites including hospitals and schools, while the EU also summoned Russia's charge d'affaires and refused to vacate its Kyiv offices.
• Guterres expressed deep concern over Russia's announced plans for systematic strikes on Kyiv's defense and command centers, warning that escalating violence risks prolonging suffering and obstructing peace efforts amid the largest number of global conflicts since the UN's founding.
• At a UN General Assembly session, Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Melnyk read a joint statement from 50 countries condemning Russia's attacks and threats against diplomatic missions in Kyiv, while Russia's UN ambassador criticized Western nations for alleged breaches of UN protocols and accused them of using force to maintain dominance.