Have the article read by OpenAI (Beta). Please note that AI translations may take some time to process.Kiev (dpa) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa have arrived in Kiev in a show of support on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.
Upon her arrival on Monday, von der Leyen said she was in Kiev because “Ukraine is Europe,” she wrote on X.
“In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny.”
The European Union is to disburse an aid payment for Ukraine worth 3.5 billion euros (3.7 billion dollars) in March rather than later this year, the Commission president announced in Kiev.
“The war in Ukraine remains the most central and consequential crisis for Europe’s future,” she said.
“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is trying harder than ever to win this war on the ground. His goal remains Ukraine’s capitulation,” von der Leyen added, before warning that Russia could try to attack other countries.
In addition to von der Leyen and Costa, a number of Western leaders are expected in the Ukrainian capital to mark the war’s anniversary, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
According to European Commission figures, the EU and its 27 member states have supported Ukraine in the past three years with a total commitment of almost 134 billion euros, including around 48 billion euros in military assistance. (24 February)
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