A senior European Union official said today that Russia had taken its war against Ukraine "to another stage" by carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilian and non-military targets and criticized Moscow for provoking recent decisions by Germany and the United States to send advanced tanks to Ukraine , reported the Associated Press.

Stefano Sannino, Secretary General of the European External Action Service, defended German and American supplies of military equipment to Ukraine and criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for waging war against NATO and the West.

Sannino gave a press conference in Tokyo as part of his Asia-Pacific tour.

He said Putin "has moved from the concept of a special operation to the current concept of war against NATO and the West".

Hungary has threatened to veto if the EU decides to introduce "nuclear" sanctions against Russia

He said the supply of German and American tanks was intended to help Ukrainians defend themselves in the war, not to turn them into aggressors.

"I think the latest in terms of arms supplies is just a development of the situation and the way Russia has started to shift the war to another stage," Sanino said.

He added that Russia was already carrying out "indiscriminate attacks" on civilians and cities, not on military targets.

The EU itself does not transfer the war to another stage, but "only provides an opportunity to save people's lives and allows Ukrainians to defend themselves from these barbaric attacks," Sanino stressed.

The EU representative was in Japan this week to discuss further strengthening cooperation between the community, Japan and other Asia-Pacific countries facing growing challenges that also affect the region, AP noted.