A special train carrying Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the Czech Republic’s Petr Fiala and Slovenia’s Janez Janša crossed the Ukrainian border shortly after 8 a.m. and arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday evening, reporters were told.
Poland's conservative leader Jarosław Kaczyński, who is deputy prime minister in charge of security, was also among those visiting the Ukrainian capital to show solidarity with the country on behalf of the European Union, according to officials in Warsaw.
The four were the first foreign leaders to visit the Ukrainian capital since Russia invaded last month, news agencies reported.
The trip took place at a time when Kyiv was under Russian attacks, with two powerful explosions rocking the city before dawn on Tuesday and two people reported dead after an apartment building was struck, according to the Reuters news agency.
"Your visit to Kyiv at this difficult time for Ukraine is a strong sign of support. We really appreciate it," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an online post.
'Europe must guarantee Ukraine's independence': Polish PM
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in a social media post that the trip was taking place on the 20th day of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "criminal aggression" against Ukraine.
"It is here, in war-torn Kyiv, that history is being made," Morawiecki wrote on Twitter.
He added: "It is here, that freedom fights against the world of tyranny. It is here that the future of us all hangs in the balance. The EU supports Ukraine, which can count on the help of its friends - we brought this message to Kyiv today."
In an earlier post, Morawiecki said: "It is our duty to be where history is happening because it's not about us, but about the future of our children who deserve to live in a world free from tyranny."
He also tweeted that "Europe must guarantee Ukraine's independence and ensure that it is ready to help in Ukraine's reconstruction."
His office said in a statement in English: "Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the National Security and Defense Committee Jarosław Kaczyński together with Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala and Prime Minister of Slovenia Janez Janša are going to Kyiv today as representatives of the European Council to meet with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmyhal."
The Polish prime minister's office added that the visit "is organized in consultation with" European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.
"The purpose of the visit is to confirm the unequivocal support of the entire European Union for the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine," according to the statement.
"The aim of this visit is also to present a broad package of support for the Ukraine and Ukrainians," it said.
The statement also said that the international community "has been informed about the visit by international organizations," including the United Nations.
Show of support
Morawiecki's chief of staff, Michał Dworczyk, told reporters that the decision to send a delegation to war-torn Ukraine had been made by EU leaders at a summit in Versailles, France, last week.
"Today, thousands of civilians, children, women, not to mention soldiers, are being killed under Russian fire in Ukraine,” Dworczyk said.
“And so everything must be done to stop the Russian aggressor” despite the risk involved, he added.
“We can’t allow the Russians to continue their criminal activity in Ukraine,” Dworczyk also said.
He announced that the three EU PMs would hold a news conference in Kyiv to unveil a "package of concrete support" for Ukraine.
(gs)
Source: PAP, gov.pl, Reuters