Putin sends message to West as he blasts British Council & EU buildings as biggest Kyiv blitz since Trump talks kills 10

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VLADIMIR Putin sent out a clear message to the West when Russian forces struck a British Council and an EU mission building in Ukraine.

Amid Donald Trump and other EU leaders’ efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country, Putin made it clear that he is in no mood to end the bloody war.

Smoke rises over Kyiv apartment buildings at night following Russian missile strikes. — Fire and smoke rise in the city after Russian drone and missile strikes on KyivCredit: Reuters

Drone explosion over Kyiv. — An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during Russian drone and missile strikesCredit: Reuters

People stand outside a damaged British Council building in Kyiv, Ukraine. — People stand at the site of a building housing the local branch of the British Council after it was hit during Russian missile and drone strikesCredit: Reuters

Damaged office ceiling after a Russian strike in Kyiv. — Inside the EU mission building damaged in Russian strikes on KyivCredit: x/kmathernova

Aftermath of a missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, showing rescuers amidst damaged cars and burning debris. — Rescuers work at the site of a residential building hit by a Russian missile on August 28Credit: Getty

At least 10 people including one child were killed after Russian forces launched a mass attack using drones and ballistic missiles to hammer capital Kyiv.

Smoke billowed from the crumbled column of a five-story residential building in the Darnytskyi district, which suffered a direct hit.

Rescue teams were on site to pull people trapped underneath the rubble.

The massive strikes came just days after Putin met Trump for peace talks.

Moscow launched a combination of 598 drones and 31 cruise and ballistic missiles, said Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s city administration.

They hit nearly 100 buildings, including a shopping mall in the city centre, he added.

The overnight strike damaged the EU delegation’s building in the city, EU Commissioner Marta Kos said on Thursday.

Kos said: “The EU Delegation in Kyiv was damaged by today’s Russian strikes on civilian areas.

“I strongly condemn these brutal attacks, a clear sign that Russia rejects peace and chooses terror.”

A local branch of the British Council was also damaged after being hit by drones and missiles.

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Just weeks ago, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) accused British intelligence of using the British Council as cover in Moscow.

Thousands of windows were shattered as residents cleared glass and debris from damaged buildings.

Among the dead was a 14-year-old girl, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.

More than 30 people were injured, authorites said, adding that the numbers are expected to rise.

The attack came as Moscow and Kyiv traded blame over stalled diplomatic efforts towards a peace deal spearheaded by Trump.

Furious Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table.

Rescuers at the site of a building hit by missile strikes in Kyiv, Ukraine. — Rescuers stand at the site of a building which was hit by Russian missile and drone strikesCredit: Reuters

Rescuers at the site of a burning building in Kyiv, Ukraine. — Rescuers work at the site of a residential building hit by a Russian missile on August 28Credit: Getty

Rescuers amidst smoke and rubble at a bombed building in Kyiv. — Rescuers work at the site of a building which was hit by Russian missile and drone strikesCredit: Reuters

“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.”

Russian forces have been slowly but steadily gaining ground in Ukraine in recent months.

Trump held a high-profile summit with Putin in Alaska this month in a failed attempt to convince him to agree to a ceasefire.

The summit was followed by a meeting with Zelensky and European allies at the White House to discuss the future of Ukraine.

But there has been little progress since then.

Western leaders have accused Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts and avoiding serious negotiations while Russian troops move deeper into Ukraine.

Before concluding any peace agreement, Ukraine said it wants security guarantees from the West to deter any future Russian attacks.

Moscow has cast Kyiv’s demands as unrealistic and has raised particular objection to the notion of stationing Western peacekeeping troops in Ukraine.

Zelensky said on Wednesday that members of his administration would meet with US officials in New York on Friday.

The Ukrainian leader said he saw “very arrogant and negative signals from Moscow regarding the negotiations”, urging extra “pressure” to “force Russia to take real steps”.

“All deadlines have already been broken, dozens of opportunities for diplomacy ruined,” Zelensky said.