The heaviest attack of the war hit the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday night into Thursday, with a barrage of hypersonic missiles, drones and ballistic strikes killing at least 18 people, including four children, and wounding dozens.

Among the buildings that suffered damage were the European Union Mission and the British Council offices, while Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was also hit nearby.

The EU Ambassador to Kiev Katarina Mathernova emphasized that the war directly affected the EU, adding that she could not believe that the strike was not deliberate.

The attack provoked immediate diplomatic reactions.

Britain and the European Commission summoned Russian ambassadors, while Commission President Ursula von der Leyen contacted President Donald Trump, asking to pressure Moscow to sit at the negotiating table.

He also stated that Europe will offer reliable security guarantees so that Ukraine can turn into a steel hedgehog.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Vladimir Putin of sabotaging hopes for peace by killing children, while French President Emmanuel Macron spoke of terrorism and barbarity.

According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia launched 31 missiles and 598 drones, of which 26 and 563 were shot down respectively.

However, the explosions caused damage to more than 20 locations in the city, including homes, a shopping mall, and a kindergarten.

Volodymyr Zelensky again accused Moscow of choosing ballistic missiles over negotiations and called on the international community to adopt tougher sanctions, particularly calling for a more decisive stance from China and Hungary.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the attacks were highly accurate and targeted military and industrial facilities, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated that Russia remains interested in negotiations in order to achieve its goals through political and diplomatic means.

The attack came two weeks after the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, which did not result in a ceasefire.

Despite Trump's statements that he is ready to impose economic war on Russia if it does not meet with Zelensky, Moscow continues its operations, while Russian forces are advancing on the fronts and declare that they have entered the Dnipro region for the first time.

As Ukraine and its Western partners work out a framework of security guarantees that could accompany a future peace agreement, the distance between the two sides remains wide.

Putin is demanding concessions that Kiev considers a tradition, while resisting a possible meeting with Zelensky.