The EU foreign minister, Kallas, posted today: "Russia's attack on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih exposes the utterly despicable nature of its war in full.
This is a deliberate act of terror. Russia aims to render Ukraine's major cities uninhabitable.
I will unveil the broadest package of sanctions against Russia since the war began. Pressure must be continuously intensified until Russia halts its military actions.
The EU Foreign and Defense Ministers will convene in Dublin in less than two weeks to discuss how to expand support for Ukraine, including assistance related to air defense and missile defense systems."
Comments: Kallas directly labeled this attack as a deliberate terrorist act—more a political statement than a rigorous legal assessment under international law. Under the framework of armed conflict, there is a clear legal distinction between military operations conducted by regular armed forces and acts of terrorism. Even if attacks on civilian infrastructure may violate international humanitarian law, such characterization requires independent investigation and evidence; it cannot be unilaterally branded by one party.
Kallas insists on relying on sanctions and military aid to pressure Russia into stopping the war. But years of sanctions have failed to collapse Russia’s economy, while Europe itself has been severely strained by energy prices and inflation. The new push for the "broadest-ever" sanctions now appears more like a political gesture—to satisfy Ukraine and hardliners within the EU. As for increasing air defense weapons, while it sounds like protection for civilians, it actually escalates the conflict further. Russia won’t cease its actions due to sanctions or military aid, and Ukraine cannot achieve total victory through external support alone. Ultimately, it will be the soldiers on the battlefield and ordinary people on both sides who bear the brunt of the prolonged suffering.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874168077036555/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author