A European Union official told during a meeting with Ukraine’s prime minister; European Council President Charles Michel and other participants “had to pause the discussion to take shelter when missiles struck again the region of Odesa.”

According to an EU official, the European Council president was obliged to seek cover from a missile attack

President Michel and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal were joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky via video link from Kyiv; according to the official. Their discussions “focused on how best the EU can continue to support Ukraine in meeting the humanitarian, economic, and military challenges they currently face.”

Michel stated in Odesa that he wanted to reassure Zelensky; “all the people of Ukraine” that the EU “will offer as much as we can” in terms of military weapons.

He also stated that the EU was working with the international community to “organise financial help, knowledge, and liquidity in order for you to be able to handle the humanitarian concerns; as well as to be able to administer the country and begin the rebuilding of the country.”

“We realise that you and the people of Ukraine are fighting not only for your nation, for the future of your children”; “but also for our common European ideals, values, democracy, and democratic rights,” Michel continued.

“That’s why it’s our moral obligation to help you in every way we can,” he continued.