A fire broke out at a military base in the Kirovske region of the Russian-controlled Crimean Peninsula overnight. Crimean Governor Sergey Aksenov said that at least 2,000 people have been evacuated from four settlements, and a nearby highway was closed to traffic. The fire has not yet been brought under control.
Russian media claimed that the fire started as a result of an air attack by Ukraine.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged Vladimir Putin to take peace and negotiations seriously at the Weimar+ Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in London. Joined by ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the EU, Lammy stressed, “The only way to deal with Putin is from a position of strength.”
EU’s Kaja Kallas accused Russia of “playing games” amid ongoing drone attacks on Ukraine and emphasized that no negotiations are possible without a genuine ceasefire. She noted that the EU is working on a 17th sanctions package and welcomed similar efforts from the US.
The talks come ahead of key UK-EU and NATO summits aimed at strengthening Euro-Atlantic security.
TR