Germany condemns Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukraine

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - Germany on Friday strongly condemned a Russian medium-range ballistic missile attack on Ukraine.

“The federal government condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of this medium-range missile against Ukraine,” government spokesman Steffen Meyer told a press briefing in Berlin.

“Russia has escalated the situation once again with its use of medium-range missiles against civilian Ukrainian energy infrastructure in Lviv (in western Ukraine). These are symbolic threats intended to instill fear, but they are not effective. Russia's behavior in this regard is too obvious for that,” he added.

Russia's Defense Ministry said it fired the hypersonic Oreshnik missile in response to Kyiv’s alleged attack last month on a residence of President Vladimir Putin.

US-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine have continued since US President Donald Trump began his second term nearly a year ago, but as yet without any concrete results.

Russia says any peace settlement should recognize its control over captured Ukrainian territory since the war began in 2022, a neutral status for Kyiv, and limits on the Ukrainian military.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has called for robust security guarantees and remains undecided on any territorial concessions.