Russia-Ukraine war: Emmanuel Macron wants to give “a message of unity” with his visit to Kyiv

Upon his arrival in kiev, together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron explained that his visit to the Ukrainian capital intends to give “a message of European unity to the Ukrainians“.

“This trip is a message of European unity to Ukrainian men and women, of support to talk about both the present and the future, because We know the next few weeks will be very difficult. “ he said from the platform.

The three leaders of the Old Continent arrived on Thursday morning at a Kiev station full of Ukrainian soldiers and where a caravan of vehicles was waiting for them. Also present was the Ukrainian Minister of European Integration, Stefanishyna Olha.

Initially they went to their hotel to rest, before having a working lunch with President Volodimir Zelenski, with whom they will talk about the Russian invasion and also about Ukrainian intentions to enter the European Union.

The visit will be joined by the Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, which travels separately from Bucharest. All together they will participate in a press conference and take a walk in the areas of kiev most damaged by the attacks of Vladimir Putin’s army.

The visit has a great symbolic load, as the three powers have faced each other recurring criticism for failing to provide the level of armament Zelensky requested, as well as for their willingness to continue talking to Putin, which Baltic and Central European leaders find unacceptable.

For their part, the Ukrainians hope that the visit could be a turning point to pave the way for a new supply of weapons.

The meeting takes place as leaders prepare an EU summit to be held next week in Brussels, where they will decide on Kiev’s request to become candidate to enter the block.

This was Macron, Scholz and Draghi’s trip to Kiev

Macron, Scholz and Draghi boarded the train in the freight area of ​​a station in Poland. It was a special convoy operated by the Ukrainian authorities in which they traveled all night.

Each had their own car and shortly after leaving they went to the room where Macron was prepare the appointment with Zelensky together. The meeting lasted almost two hours and then everyone went to rest in their compartment.

The Italian media highlighted the strong security measures on the train and they explained that, already in Ukraine, an operation of about 300 members of the army will be in charge of monitoring the movements of the delegations.

With information from EFE.