UPDATE - EU denounces 'attack' on Ukraine's Odesa 'during' Ukrainian, Greek leaders' visit

ADDS REMARKS BY EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) – The EU leaders on Wednesday denounced an "attack" on Ukraine’s port city of Odesa "during" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s visit.

The attack is another sign of "Russia’s cowardly tactics" in its war on Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel wrote on X.

"This is reprehensible and below even the Kremlin’s playbook," he said, reiterating the bloc's "full support" to Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she "strongly condemned" the "vile attack" on Odesa by Russia.

"No one is intimidated by this new attempt at terror - certainly not the two leaders on the ground nor the brave people of Ukraine," she said, also reiterating the EU's support to Ukraine.

Earlier, an explosion was reported in the Black Sea port of Odesa, before a planned meeting between Zelenskyy and Mitsotakis.

Russia launched its war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.