Von der Leyen heading to Kyiv to show ‘unwavering support’ for Ukraine

European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU’s international affairs chief Josep Borrell are travelling to Kyiv right this moment to fulfill Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Trying ahead to Kyiv,” von der Leyen wrote on Twitter with a photograph displaying her at a station subsequent to a prepare bearing Ukrainian colors, with Borrell and Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger.

Borrell additionally accompanied his “Going to Kyiv” tweet with an image of the 2 EU officers.

Heger defined that the three are already in Ukraine and that the aim of their go to is to “focus on our proposals for serving to Ukraine with (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy and (Prime Minister) Denys Shmyhal” and to “supply choices for transporting grains, together with wheat & to extend the usage of Slovakia’s humanitarian hub”.

Von der Leyen confirmed her plans to go to the Ukrainian capital on Thursday, telling reporters: “I need to ship a really sturdy message of unwavering help to the Ukrainian individuals and their courageous battle for our frequent values.”

The journey is the newest undertaken by EU leaders to Ukraine and comes a day after the bloc agreed on a fifth spherical of sanctions towards Moscow. The measures embrace an embargo on Russian coal, a ban on exports to Russia together with high-tech items of as much as €10 billion, the closure of EU ports to Russian-flagged ships, and additional restrictions on key banks.

The leaders of Poland, Slovenia and the Czechia had been the primary to make the journey to Kyiv on 15 March to indicate their help for Ukraine which has been beneath assault from Russia since 24 February.

Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, has additionally made the journey.

Von der Leyen and Borrell will then journey to Warsaw, Poland, to attend a “Stand Up For Ukraine” occasion on Saturday.