EU-Ukraine summit to be held in Kyiv in ‘powerful signal’ to Russia
- Ukraine is also expecting up to 140 modern tanks from Western allies, as Moscow’s forces claim new ground near Bakhmut
- US President Biden, who earlier signalled he would not send F-16s to Kyiv, says he will discuss Ukraine’s new requests for advanced weaponry with Zelensky
Ukraine’s prime minister announced that a summit with the European Union will take place in Kyiv on Friday that would send a “powerful signal” to Moscow and the world, almost a year after Russia launched its invasion.
Also on Tuesday, Ukraine said it was expecting up to 140 modern tanks from its Western allies, as Russian forces claimed new ground close to the front-line hotspot of Bakhmut.
“The Ukraine-EU summit will be held in Kyiv on February 3,” Prime Minister Denys Shmygal told a government meeting, calling the event “extremely important” for Kyiv’s bid to join the European bloc.
“The fact that this summit will be held in Kyiv is a powerful signal to both partners and enemies.”
No details were provided on who would be attending on the European Union side.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24 last year, and his forces have repeatedly targeted civilian infrastructure including in the capital Kyiv.