Advertisement
European leaders in Kyiv pledge to back Ukraine on 2-year anniversary of war
- The promise by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen comes amid Ukraine’s shortage of military supplies that are hurting it on the battlefield
- US aid of US$61 billion promised by President Joe Biden remains blocked by Republicans in Congress
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
14
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed that Europe would back Ukraine until it was “finally free” as she and three other Western leaders arrived in Kyiv to show solidarity on the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Advertisement
The visit by von der Leyen and the prime ministers of Italy, Canada and Belgium – Giorgia Meloni, Justin Trudeau and Alexander De Croo – was a show of support as Ukraine suffers shortages of military supplies that are hurting it on the battlefield as Moscow grinds out territorial gains.
“More than ever, we stand firmly by Ukraine. Financially, economically, militarily, morally. Until the country is finally free,” Von der Leyen, who came with the others on an overnight train from neighbouring Poland, wrote on the social media platform X.
The leaders visited Hostomel airport, site of a ferocious battle at the start of the invasion as Russia tried to fly in paratroopers to seize the capital Kyiv a few kilometres away.
“We are here today to say thanks to these men and women who on February 24 two years ago did not run away and instead fought,” Meloni said. “This place is a symbol of Moscow’s failures, a symbol of Ukrainian pride.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky embraced the Western leaders and delivered a televised speech against a backdrop of wrecked aircraft.
Advertisement
“Two years ago we met enemy troopers here with fire, and two years later, we are meeting our friends, our partners, here,” he said.
Advertisement