Western leaders show solidarity with Ukraine as conflict enters third year

Western leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and Justin Trudeau, visited Kyiv to show solidarity with Ukraine as it marks the third year of conflict with Russia.

Western leaders, including the European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen and Canada’s Justin Trudeau, made a solidarity visit to Kyiv as Ukraine marked the third year of its conflict with Russia. The delegation, which also comprised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, arrived in Ukraine via an overnight train from neighbouring Poland. Their visit comes amidst a backdrop of waning Western assistance and territorial gains by Russian forces.

During an event at Kyiv’s Gostomel Airport commemorating the second anniversary of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed resolve, stated how they have been fighting for 730 days of their lives. His sentiment was echoed by Oleksandr Syrskii, the chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, who emphasised the importance of unity in achieving victory.

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Meloni, whose country chairs the G7 this year, is set to host a video conference between G7 leaders and Zelenskyy, with discussions likely to revolve around imposing new sanctions on Russia and coordinating joint arms acquisitions for Ukraine.

European Commission President von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine. Trudeau also underscored the significance of the Ukrainian struggle for democracy.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence in Ukraine’s eventual accession to the alliance, emphasising NATO’s continued commitment to supporting the country.

The United Kingdom announced a new defence package worth $311 million to bolster Ukraine’s artillery ammunition production, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak affirming Britain’s enduring support for Ukraine.

However, Kyiv has faced challenges in recent weeks due to shortages of military supplies, exacerbated by Russia’s capture of the eastern town of Avdiivka. U.S. President Joe Biden attributed delays in military assistance to Ukraine to opposition from Republicans in Congress, stressing the necessity of such aid in repelling Russian aggression.

Despite the challenges, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed confidence in Ukraine’s eventual victory, asserting, “Ukraine will win the war,” and emphasising the importance of international support in achieving this goal.