Russia conducted a large-scale nighttime airstrike on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, resulting in civilian casualties, including an infant, and engulfing government buildings in flames. On the same day, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, issued a stern warning to the West, stating that if foreign troops are deployed to Ukraine, they will become "legitimate targets for destruction." Tensions in the Ukraine war are again peaking as military offensives are being presented.
According to Reuters, on the morning of the 7th (local time), Russia launched an airstrike on Kyiv using drones and missiles. The attack resulted in at least 3 deaths and 18 injuries. Among the deceased were an infant and a young woman, and among the injured was a pregnant woman. Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv, stated, "A fire broke out in a government building in the city center." Several residential apartment buildings were also destroyed or set ablaze. The head of Kyiv's military administration criticized, "Russia is deliberately and consciously targeting civilian objects."
On the same day, President Putin issued a chilling warning to the West during the Eastern Economic Forum held in Vladivostok, Russia. He stated, "If some troops appear there (in Ukraine), we start from the fact that it will become a legitimate target for destruction," targeting the discussions on post-war security led by France and others.
This is a direct response to a statement made by Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine. Earlier, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, announced that 26 countries have pledged to provide post-war security, including the deployment of international forces on land, at sea, and in the air. In response, President Zelensky expressed optimism, saying, "The size of the deployment will clearly be in the thousands." This is a scenario that Russia, which initiated the war under the pretext of blocking Ukraine's NATO membership, cannot accept.
As the war escalates again and no diplomatic solutions are in sight, pessimism is growing in the West. The European Union (EU) and the United States are preparing additional sanctions. Antonio Costa, the permanent chairman of the EU summit, noted, "We are ready to do more," and "work on a new sanctions package has begun in Brussels, with the European team heading to Washington to cooperate with our American friends."