Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the overnight Russian strikes on Kyiv as senseless, saying they killed at least 14 people and damaged the British Council building. He argued that Vladimir Putin is sabotaging hopes of peace as Western efforts to broker an end to the conflict struggle to gain traction. In a post on X, Starmer wrote: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the senseless Russian strikes on Kyiv which have damaged the British Council building. Putin is killing children and civilians, and sabotaging hopes of peace. This bloodshed must end.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table. We expect a response from everyone in the world who has called for peace but now more often stays silent rather than taking principled positions.” The EU delegation building in Kyiv was damaged, but staff were not harmed, according to EU president Ursula von der Leyen.

Three children are among the 14 confirmed dead, with the city administration warning the toll could rise as rescue teams search for people trapped beneath rubble. Russia’s defence ministry said it shot down 102 Ukrainian drones overnight, mostly in the south-west.