EU Council chief takes shelter amid bombing of Ukraine’s Odesa

Brussels/Kyiv, May 9 (EFE).- The president of the European Council Charles Michel on Monday was forced to seek shelter as multiple missiles struck the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, where Michel made a surprise visit to mark Europe Day.

“During the meeting with the prime minister (Denys Shmyhal), the participants had to interrupt the meeting to take shelter when the missiles hit the Odesa region again,” European sources reported.

Russian troops fired four cruise missiles on the southern city, the Ukrinform news agency reported.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the talks with Shmyhal from Kyiv via videoconferencing.

The meeting focused on “how the EU can continue to better support Ukraine in dealing with the humanitarian, economic and military challenges it is currently facing,” according to the sources.

Russia on Monday also commemorated the 77th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during a ceremony in Moscow, where president Vladimir Putin justified the invasion of Ukraine as a reaction to Nato threats. EFE

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