EU’s Ursula von der Leyen to Visit Kyiv on Tuesday, May 9

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is set to visit Kyiv on Tuesday, May 9, for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

 According to Eric Mamer, a spokesperson for the EU, the talks will cover all dimensions of the EU’s relationship with Ukraine. He also reiterated the EU’s unwavering support for the country in the face of Russian military aggression.

 The meeting will mark von der Leyen’s fifth trip to Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Given the frequent missile strikes that Kyiv has been experiencing, the visit will be conducted with tight security measures, and Mamer didn’t provide any specific details about the itinerary.

 The visit also coincides with Europe Day, an annual celebration of European unity that marks the end of World War II on the continent. Mamer welcomed Zelensky’s announcement that May 9 will be celebrated as Europe Day in Ukraine from now on.

 “In this context, we warmly welcome the announcement by President Zelensky that May 9 will from now on also be celebrated as Europe Day in Ukraine,” he said.

 Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the EU has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russian officials and businesses involved in the war.

 Ahead of von der Leyen’s visit, Mamer confirmed that the European Commission has proposed an eleventh round of sanctions targeting Russian officials and businesses for approval by EU member states.

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