(Kyiv) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark Europe Day and show her support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian offensive, the day Moscow commemorates the victory over the Nazi Germany.
Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on an overnight train from Poland to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and work on Ukraine’s application to join the European Union, according to the press group accompanying her.
Shortly before his arrival, anti-aircraft sirens sounded for two hours in Kyiv.
The Ukrainian president signed a decree on Monday for May 9 to be celebrated in his country as Europe Day, as is the case in Brussels.
He has thus renounced any commemoration of the victory over Nazi Germany on May 9, as in the Soviet tradition celebrated in Russia, which organizes a large military parade on Red Square on this day.
“I warmly welcome President Zelensky’s decision to make 9 May Europe Day. Ukraine is part of our European family,” Ursula von der Leyen told the news group on her train to Kyiv.
“My presence in Kyiv today, May 9, is symbolic, but it is also a sign of a crucial and very practical reality: the EU is working hand in hand with Ukraine on many issues. »
The Ukrainian army announced in the morning that it had shot down 23 of the 25 missiles launched by Russia against its territory during the night. The alert in Kyiv ceased an hour before the arrival of Mme von der Leyen.
On Monday evening, eight Kinjal-type hypersonic missiles launched by Russia into eastern Ukraine from the Black Sea were shot down, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram.
As of Tuesday morning, 15 of the 17 X-101/X555 cruise missiles fired from the Caspian were intercepted in the center and south of the country, she added.
Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian forces repelled an attempt to seize Kyiv, but fighting has since stalled.
Closing Sanctions Gaps
The two leaders are also expected to discuss the European strategy to increase the supply of ammunition to Ukrainian forces and Kyiv’s growing financial needs for the next year.
Mme von der Leyen will also inform his Ukrainian partner of the 11e Brussels sanctions package targeting companies that support the Russian war machine and seek to circumvent the existing system.
“We are determined to close the existing gaps,” she said. “No one should doubt it.”
The Russian army currently occupies most of the eastern region of Donbass, part of the southern coast and Crimea.
The Ukrainians succeeded in driving the invaders out of the Kharkiv (north) and Kherson (south) region last fall, but their advance has since stalled.
Westerners support Kyiv with money and arms while promising the country eventual membership of the European Union and NATO.
They are now awaiting a new Ukrainian offensive which they hope could force Russian President Vladimir Putin to step down or at least agree to talks.
In the meantime, Brussels is helping the Ukrainian government carry out anti-corruption and good governance reforms to enable it to begin EU accession talks that could last several years.
In the coming weeks, the European Commission will issue an interim opinion on Kyiv’s progress ahead of an official written report in October.