By RFE/RL
The prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovenia are traveling to Kyiv on March 15 in an "unequivocal" show of support for Ukraine as Russia continues its assault on the country.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in a tweet that the three leaders will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal.
"The aim of the visit is to express the European Union's unequivocal support for Ukraine and its freedom and independence," Fiala said.
"At the same time, we will present a broad package of support for Ukraine and its citizens during the visit. The international community has also been informed of this visit by international organizations, including the United Nations."
Fiala, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa are traveling to Kyiv by train and crossed from Poland into Ukraine before noon, Michal Dwoczyk, an aide to Moraweicki, told reporters.
The Polish leader called it a historic mission.
"It is our duty to be where history is forged. Because it's not about us, but about the future of our children who deserve to live in a world free from tyranny," Morawiecki said.
The three leaders will arrive in a city that is still under bombardment, forcing many people to spend nights sheltering in underground stations. Russian forces stepped up strikes overnight on several suburbs of Kyiv as part of their unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Nearly three weeks into a war that Western countries say Moscow believed it would win within days, Russian forces have been halted outside Kyiv despite the targeting of the city and its suburbs.
Hosting the foreign prime ministers in his own capital would be a symbolic success for Zelenskiy, who has stayed in Kyiv to rally his nation with nightly messages.
In his most recent message, Zelenskiy called on Russian forces to surrender, saying they and their officers already know that the war is hopeless.
With reporting by Reuters
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-czech-poland-slovenia-visit/31753678.html
Polish, Czech and Slovenian PMs visit Kyiv in EU show of support
Three EU leaders to visit Kyiv to show Ukraine support
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