European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and the leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and Croatia arrived in Kyiv on the morning of 24 February, marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europeiska Pravda reports, citing posts by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the European leaders on X.
Von der Leyen, visiting Kyiv for the tenth time since the start of the war, said the trip was meant "to reaffirm that Europe stands firmly with Ukraine — financially, militarily, and through this harsh winter."
"And to send a clear message to the Ukrainian people and to the aggressor alike: we will not relent until peace is restored," she wrote.
Costa said his goal in traveling to Kyiv was "to ensure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine."
Sybiha met the allied leaders at Kyiv's central railway station. He welcomed the Nordic-Baltic Eight — the leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden — as "our true and close allies in the defense of freedom, justice, and truth."
"Thank you for standing with Ukraine today and throughout four years of Russia’s brutal full-scale war," Sybiha wrote.
He noted separately the arrival of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman. "We are grateful to friendly Croatia for its support and solidarity. Thank you for being with us on this symbolic day," Sybiha wrote.
Addressing the significance of the date, Sybiha said: "February 24th, 2022, has forever divided the history of Europe into “before” and "after." It is symbolic to have the EU leadership with us on this day.."
The visit follows Polish Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty's arrival in Kyiv on February 23, according to Europeiska Pravda. The Council of Europe has also scheduled a series of events to mark the anniversary in solidarity with Ukraine.
