Former Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Killed in Lviv
A former speaker of Ukraine’s parliament was fatally shot in Lviv on Saturday, authorities reported, as European foreign ministers gathered to discuss measures aimed at pushing Moscow to halt its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Andriy Parubiy, a member of parliament who held the speaker’s position from 2016 to 2019 and was a prominent figure in Ukraine’s 2013 pro-European Maidan uprising, was killed, prosecutors confirmed. An investigation into the killing has been opened, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denouncing it as a “brutal crime.”
European foreign ministers convened in Copenhagen to explore ways to pressure Russia toward negotiations. Following the meeting, the EU’s top diplomat stated that Moscow showed no signs of seeking peace.
“The European Union and its member states back diplomatic efforts to achieve peace and end Russia’s war. However, it is evident that Russia is not moving toward peace—quite the opposite. They are gearing up for further conflict,” she said. Discussions also touched on the war in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian situation there.
The informal summit, which did not result in binding commitments, concluded after a week marked by violence. Russia carried out a major airstrike on Kyiv on Thursday, resulting in at least 21 deaths. Strikes in Zaporizhzhia killed one person and injured 24 others, while the Dnipropetrovsk region faced what its governor called a “massive attack” early Saturday.
Since the invasion, the EU has introduced 18 rounds of sanctions against Russia, the latest in July. Ministers considered options for additional measures, including import restrictions, tariffs, and penalties targeting third-party entities trading with Russia. Efforts to counter Russia’s use of shadow fleet ships to bypass Western oil sanctions were also discussed.
The potential use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction was another key topic. The EU diplomat stressed the importance of ensuring Russia bears financial responsibility for war damages while mitigating risks to financial stability. She noted that markets remained stable when the assets were initially frozen.
“Given the destruction inflicted by Russia, it is inconceivable that these funds will be returned unless Ukraine receives full compensation,” she said. Estimates place Ukraine’s reconstruction costs at €506 billion over the next ten years.
Further steps will be proposed in the coming week, with the diplomat emphasizing that coordinated action with transatlantic allies would amplify the impact of any measures.
The Danish foreign minister also participated in the discussions.
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