Three European leaders traveled to Ukrainian capital to meet Zelensky
The prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic visited Kyiv on Tuesday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and pledge the European Union’s “unequivocal support” and offer financial assistance to Ukraine. The dramatic travel by train was the visit by foreign leaders to the Ukraine since Russia’s attack began on February 24.
After the meeting, the Czech leader told Ukrainians that they were “not alone”. Petr Fiala wrote in a tweet that “We admire your brave fight. You’re fighting for your lives, country and freedom. We know that you’re also fighting for our lives. You’re not alone, our countries stand by your side.”
Ukrainian President Zelensky was quoted as telling the group that “Your visit is a powerful expression of support for Ukraine.”
In a Facebook post, the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said he and his counterparts, Poland’s Mateusz Morawiecki and Slovenia’s Janez Jansa, were visiting Kyiv as representatives of the European Council. Jansa wrote on Twitter that the delegation was bringing a message from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, which he said was committed to “rebuilding and reconstruction of the Ukraine.”
“The purpose of the visit is to confirm the unequivocal support of the entire European Union for the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine,” Fiala wrote. The visit also aims to present a broad package of support for the Ukraine and Ukrainians.”
Polish prime minister shared several photos of the delegation around a small table on the train with a map laid before them. “It is here that the future of us all hangs in the balance … we brought this message to Kyiv today,” he wrote.
The visit by the leaders of three EU and NATO countries comes two weeks to the day after Zelensky made an emotional appeal to the European Parliament.
“We are fighting also to be equal members of Europe,” Zelensky told EU lawmakers on March 1. “We have proven our strength. We have proven that at a minimum, we are exactly the same as you are. So, prove that you are with us. Prove that you will not let us go. Prove that you indeed are Europeans.”
