Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday morning to commemorate the four-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In an X update, von der Leyen was seen being greeted by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha upon arriving by train. She noted that the visit marks her 10th trip to the wartorn capital since the full-scale invasion started on Feb. 24, 2022.
“In Kyiv for the tenth time since the start of the war. To reaffirm that Europe stands unwaveringly with Ukraine, financially, militarily, and through this harsh winter. To underscore our enduring commitment to Ukraine’s just fight,” she wrote.
“And to send a clear message to the Ukrainian people and to the aggressor alike: We will not relent until peace is restored.”
Von der Leyen’s message, calling for “peace on Ukraine’s terms,” also signals a tougher stance from Kyiv’s European allies on peace talks, as US-backed security guarantees remain elusive and Moscow continues to repackage its war goals as peace terms, while Washington and Moscow press Kyiv for concessions.
Von der Leyen has also been a vocal supporter of Kyiv and advocated for a €90 billion ($106 billion) loan to sustain the country’s finances – a loan now in doubt after Hungary blocked the deal at the last minute, demanding Kyiv resume Russian oil flows in exchange for approval.
While it is unclear which heads of state are scheduled to visit Kyiv on Tuesday, authorities have announced partial metro closures and traffic changes to accommodate the events.
President Volodymyr Zelensky is also set to address the European Parliament on Tuesday.