The heads of government of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia took a train to Kiev as fighting escalated in Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki tweeted photos showing him with his deputy 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 Kiev, history is being made,” Morawiecki wrote. He said that “the EU supports Ukraine, which can count on the help of its friends. This is the message we brought to Kiev today.”
The purpose of the visit is to express EU support for Ukraine
“The purpose of the visit is to express the European Union’s unequivocal support for Ukraine, its freedom and independence,” – Czech Prime Minister Fiala wrote on Twitter. Fiala stressed that a broad package of support for Ukraine and its people would be presented during the trip.
The decision on such a visit was already made on Friday at the summit of EU heads of state and government in Versailles, France, and the government in Warsaw prepared it in strict secrecy. The visit was agreed with EU Council President Charles Michel and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. According to Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the US government were also informed about the visit. Müller said: “The delegation de facto represents the European Union, the European Council.”
EU sources said the European Council had not given an official mandate because the 27 member states had not made a formal decision.
EU leaders did not dare to take part in the visit to Ukraine?
“An individual decision “Asked why EU leaders themselves did not go to Kiev, Müller replied: “This is a difficult question, but it is a question of individual decisions of each European leader.” An EU official said Michel had highlighted the security risks associated with such a trip.
Müller said experts had carefully analyzed the security situation and concluded that “this visit simply has to take place.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said of the action that it was important to show solidarity in different ways. Everyone helps in different ways. “And this is also good,” – Scholz said. The international community is pursuing a clear political strategy to help Ukraine. He said talks should continue with Sielensky, but “of course” also with Russian President Vladimir Putin to push for a ceasefire.
After more than two weeks of war, Kiev is almost completely surrounded by Russian troops. Early this morning, the Ukrainian capital was shaken by a series of powerful explosions. Mayor Vitali Klitschko has imposed a 35-hour curfew since Tuesday evening.
source: www.tagesschau.de, www.insidegermany.co