KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s president said Sunday that intercepted radio and telephone conversations prove that Russia-backed separatists were responsible for firing the rockets that pounded the southeastern city of Mariupol and killed at least 30 people.
The attack on Mariupol, a strategically situated port city that had been relatively quiet for months, alarmed the West and looked likely further to aggravate relations with Russia.
Putting the blame squarely on Russia, President Barack Obama said the U.S. would work with its European partners to “ratchet up the pressure on Russia.”
European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini later announced that EU foreign ministers would hold an “extraordinary” meeting in Brussels on Thursday to discuss Ukraine.
The rocket attack came a day after the rebels rejected a peace deal. European attempts have failed to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine, which has killed at least 5,100 people since April.
