BRUSSELS

Russia's use of Oreshnik missile in Ukraine is an escalation and a warning to Europe and the US, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Friday, as many European capitals condemned the recent strikes on Ukraine.

"Putin doesn’t want peace, Russia’s reply to diplomacy is more missiles and destruction. This deadly pattern of recurring major Russian strikes will repeat itself until we help Ukraine break it," Kallas said in a post on US social media company X.

"Russia’s reported use of an Oreshnik missile is a clear escalation against Ukraine and meant as a warning to Europe and to the US."

She called on EU countries to reinforce Ukraine's air-defense capabilities and increase the cost of the war on Russia through tougher sanctions.

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

US-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine have continued since US President Donald Trump began his second term in 2025, but without any concrete results so far.

Russia says any peace settlement should recognize its control over captured Ukrainian territory since the war in 2022, Kyiv should remain neutral, and there be limits on Ukrainian military.

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

Other European leaders also criticized Russia. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal described the strikes as "terror," highlighting the winter hardships faced by civilians, including homes without heating, electricity, or water.

"Russia deliberately prolongs the war. Our response must be clear: pressure, sanctions, accountability. Russia does not respond to goodwill. It responds only to force," he said on X.

Romanian Foreign Minister Toiu Oana condemned the attacks on Kyiv and Lviv as "grave violations of international humanitarian law" and a "serious threat to regional and international stability."

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the missile strike is part of Russia's long-standing campaign against Ukraine and a "deliberate provocation" near EU and NATO borders.

"One thing is clear. Russia is staying on its old path. It does not seek peace and has not abandoned its goal of destroying Ukraine," he wrote on X.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry described the attack as "outright barbarity," and “calculated mass terror against civilians." "By claiming the use of an intermediate-range ballistic missile 'Oreshnik' the Kremlin commits deliberate war crimes against civilians," the ministry said on X.

Portugal's government also strongly condemned the recent attacks, including "the Oreshnik hypersonic missile" in Lviv and drone strikes in Kyiv, reaffirming its "unconditional support" for Ukraine.