After further Russian air attacks on Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday.
After requesting to join the EU last year after Russia’s invasion, Ukraine declared Europe Day it’s own on Monday.
“Good to be back in Kyiv. “Where the ideals we hold dear are protected daily,” von der Leyen tweeted with a snap of her train arrival.
She started her symbolic tour before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s yearly military parade and address on Red Square commemorating the Soviet victory in World War Two.
On Sunday, Zelenskiy made May 8 Kyiv’s World War Two triumph day, moving it from Moscow, Ukraine’s previous Soviet overlord.
“I welcome President Zelenskiy’s decision to make May 9 Europe Day also here in Ukraine,” von der Leyen tweeted.
Europe Day commemorates a 1950 French statement that founded the EU.
The EU executive, the European Commission, unusually announced her trip the day before. For security, visiting dignitaries kept wartime Ukraine travels secretly.
Russia has increased its long-range assaults on Ukraine as Kyiv prepares to launch a counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territories in the south and east.
Ukrainian officials say Russia launched at least 25 missiles overnight, most targeting Kyiv, but virtually all were shot down.
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