The leaders of Germany, France and Italy, all criticised in the past by Kyiv for support viewed as too cautious, visited Ukraine on Thursday and offered the hope of EU membership to a country pleading for weapons to fend off Russia's offensive, APA reports citing Reuters.
Air raid sirens blared in Kyiv as the visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Olaf Scholz and Italy's Mario Draghi began, with the leaders touring a nearby town wrecked early in the war.
After holding talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the leaders signalled that Ukraine should be granted European Union candidate status, a symbolic gesture that would draw Kyiv closer to the economic bloc.
Scholz said Germany had taken in 800,000 Ukrainian refugees who had fled the conflict and would continue to support Ukraine as long as it needs.
"Ukraine belongs to the European family," he said.
On the battlefield, Ukrainian officials said their troops were still holding out against massive Russian bombardment in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, and described new progress in a counteroffensive in the south.
But they said battles on both main fronts depended on receiving more aid from the West, especially artillery to counter Russia's big advantage in firepower.
"We appreciate the support already provided by partners, we expect new deliveries, primarily heavy weapons, modern rocket artillery, anti-missile defence systems," Zelenskiy said after the talks with his European counterparts.
"There is a direct correlation: the more powerful weapons we get, the faster we can liberate our people, our land," he said.
Macron said France would step up arms deliveries to Kyiv, while NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels were also expected to promise more weapons.
***15.15
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi arrived Thursday morning in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, to confirm Europe’s support for Ukraine, while Washington announced a billion dollars in US military aid to the conflict-torn country, APA reports citing Washingtonpost.
After his arrival, President Macron said, “My presence in Kyiv is a message of European solidarity with President Volodymyr Zelensky,” while Schulz pledged to help Ukraine “as long as necessary.”
Earlier, German and Italian media reported that Macron, Schulze and Draghi were on the train to Kyiv, where they boarded a special train in Poland.
Macron, whose country currently holds the presidency of the European Union, sent signals to Kyiv, on Wednesday, by visiting one of the NATO bases in Romania.
In response to a question about the visit to Kyiv, the French president said: “I think we are at a moment when we need to send clear political signals, we the European Union, to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people while they have been showing heroic resistance for months.”
The three leaders are meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss military support and Ukraine’s application to join the European Union. France, Germany and Italy support this request, but in the long term.
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