In a recent series of devastating Russian missile attacks on Kyiv, at least 17 individuals lost their lives, and over 40 others sustained injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urgently called for enhanced air defense systems, emphasizing that the availability of ballistic missile interceptors might have prevented the fatalities incurred during this assault. For several months, Ukraine has expressed concerns regarding a lack of adequate military resources, particularly following former President Donald Trump’s reversal on allowing local missile production in Ukraine.

In the wake of these strikes, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, asserted that “Russia must pay” for its actions. However, the effectiveness and specifics of potential repercussions remain uncertain. Lucy Hough engages with Pjotr Sauer, the Guardian’s correspondent specializing in Russian affairs, to delve deeper into the implications of this ongoing conflict.