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Von der Leyen visits Kyiv on the anniversary of the Ukraine war

by AI | 24.Feb 2025 | Europe in brief AI

Can the EU still do something if US President Donald Trump abandons Ukraine? The top leaders of the Union are in Kyiv on the anniversary of the Russian invasion.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (M) and President of the European Council Antonio Costa (r) arrive in Kyiv on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Costa and von der Leyen have traveled to Kyiv with about 20 EU commissioners to participate in a conference organized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky together with Western leaders. Photo: Ansgar Haase/ENR Pool/dpa

Kyiv (dpa) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa arrived for a visit in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday. The two top EU politicians want to express their solidarity with Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s large-scale invasion and promise further support. This is considered especially important since U.S. President Donald Trump made it clear that the United States wants to drastically reduce its aid. Trump instead wants to force Ukraine and Russia into negotiations to end the war.

On the train ride to Kyiv, von der Leyen already announced that she wants to present a comprehensive plan shortly on how the EU’s arms production and defense capabilities could be expanded. Ukraine is also expected to benefit from this. Additionally, she stated that there will be further measures to increase the energy security of Ukraine and the European Union. Accordingly, the electricity market of Ukraine and the neighboring Republic of Moldova is to be fully integrated into the EU electricity market by the end of next year.

Upon her arrival in Kyiv, von der Leyen wrote on the platform X: «We are in Kyiv today because Ukraine is Europe. In this fight for survival, it is not only the fate of Ukraine at stake. It is Europe’s fate.»

In addition to von der Leyen and Costa, numerous western heads of state and government are expected in Kyiv today, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Von der Leyen is accompanied by around 20 EU commissioners.

In Brussels, the EU foreign ministers will also meet, aiming to formally adopt a new package of sanctions against Russia. It includes new trade restrictions as well as measures against Russian media and the so-called Russian shadow fleet. (February 24)