According to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the heads of government of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia arrived in kyiv by train on Tuesday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also posted photos on Twitter showing him with his Vice President Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and his Slovenian counterpart Janez Jansa at a table with a map of Ukraine.
“Here in war-torn kyiv, history is being made,” Morawiecki wrote. The EU supports Ukraine, which can count on the help of its friends. “We brought this message to kyiv today.”
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyj gave a welcome on Tuesday night. Zelenskyj posted a video on Telegram showing him, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and his Slovenian counterpart Janez Jansa with other participants in a windowless room.
“Your visit to kyiv at this difficult time for Ukraine is a strong signal of support. We really appreciate that,” Zelenskyj said.
In the Ukrainian capital, the four politicians want to speak not only with Zelensky but also with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal. “We have to put an end to the tragedy that is happening in the east as soon as possible,” Morawiecki said Tuesday night via Facebook.
[Alle aktuellen Nachrichten zum russischen Angriff auf die Ukraine bekommen Sie mit der Tagesspiegel-App live auf ihr Handy. Hier für Apple- und Android-Geräte herunterladen]
Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller had previously said that the decision on such a visit had already been made at the summit of EU heads of state and government in Versailles, France, on Friday. The visit had been prepared by the Warsaw government for many days in the strictest secrecy. He was closely coordinated with the President of the EU Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
“The delegation represents de facto the European Union, the European Council,” Müller said. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the US government have also been informed of the action. It was said in EU circles that there was no official mandate for the European Council, as the 27 EU countries had not taken any formal decision.
High representatives of the EU do not want to travel to kyiv
According to Michel’s spokesman, von der Leyen and Michel were briefed on a possible meeting on the sidelines of an EU summit late last week.
The Ukrainian capital has been bombed since the Russian war of aggression began on February 24. In kyiv, the delegation will not only send a very clear and strong signal of support for Ukraine’s freedom struggle throughout the EU, but also present a concrete support package for Ukraine, the government spokesman said.
More about the Ukrainian war on Tagesspiegel Plus:
When asked why the EU leaders did not go to kyiv, Müller replied: “This is a difficult question, but it is a matter of individual decisions of each European leader.” with a view to such a trip.
According to Ukrainian sources, Russian shelling has repeatedly destroyed civilian targets in kyiv. The civil defense said that it was only on Tuesday morning that a total of four residential buildings were attacked in various districts. At least two people died. Moscow insists on targeting only military targets.
Powerful support symbol
Poland’s government spokesman said experts had thoroughly analyzed the security situation and concluded that “this visit simply has to take place.” It is also meant to be a powerful symbol of support.
Czech political scientists hailed the trip as an important signal. So far, Paris and Berlin have been the most important voices in the EU’s foreign and defense policy, Petr Bohacek of the AMO think tank in Prague told the CTK news agency.
However, for a long time they had been too lenient and accommodating towards Russia. “The eastern wing of the EU should urge the western wing to provide more support to Ukraine, including military support,” said Josef Mlejnek of Charles University in Prague. In his assessment, a victory by Russian President Vladimir Putin would have unforeseen consequences. (dpa)
Source link