European Union leaders on Thursday were discussing the latest developments in the Ukraine-Russia crisis after a kindergarten was shelled by ‘pro-Russian’ troops.
The brief informal talks were slotted in as tensions rose this week over the crisis. They come before a summit with African Union kicks off in Brussels.
Both Ukrainian armed forces and separatists controlling parts of eastern Ukraine spoke of renewed shelling in the region early Thursday.
Video and images show that a pre-school in Ukrainian-controlled territory was hit by a shell Thursday.
The Russia talks will are classed as informal means diplomats are not working on a formal joint text.
The idea came up several days ago amid fears that the situation at the border with Ukraine, where Russia has amassed more than 130,000 troops, could overshadow the meeting with African leaders.
President Klaus Iohannis, attending the meeting, said he wanted to raise Romania’s global profile.
„We especially want to put an accent on our bilateral and multilateral relations with countries on the African continent.”
„We want to emphasize our country’s contribution to development and security on the African continent, including in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The meeting began at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in Brussels, European Council spokesman President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter.
The Russian defense ministry on Tuesday said some troop units were withdrawing and returning to their military bases.
But NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that Russia was actually continuing its military build-up at the border.
Russia’s parliament appealed to President Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of the two Russia-backed breakaway regions in Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk.
The European Council has been encouraging diplomatic efforts and reiterating its full support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
