After a night trip by train and a visit to the city of Irpin, the Prime Minister Mario Draghi, the French president Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz they arrived in Kiev to show the closeness of Italy, France and Germany, but also of the entire European Union, to the Ukrainian population which has been trying to resist the Russian invasion since last February 24th.
The three leaders met the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to the presidential palace
The meeting with Zelensky: a message of European unity
“We have come to send a message of European unity to all citizens of Ukraine. A message of support because the next few weeks will be very difficult", said the French president, Emmanuel Macron, as he got off the train that took him from Poland to Kiev, "in a place of war where massacres were committed".
“Busy day, important meetings. It is a pleasure to meet President Macron, Chancellor Scholz, Prime Minister Draghi and President Iohanniss in Kiev. We appreciate your solidarity to our country and people,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram. Even the president of Romania Iohannis is in fact in Kiev, on a separate visit.
Zelensky has meanwhile accepted Germany's invitation to participate in the next G7, announced German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Draghi's words: "We want Ukraine in the EU"
“The most important message of our visit is that Italy wants Ukraine in the EU, wants me to have candidate status and will support this position at the next European Council. Zelensky knows it's a way forward, not just a step." This was stated by Prime Minister Mario Draghi at a press conference in Kiev with the Ukrainian president and EU leaders Macron and Scholz.
"There are two weeks to clear the ports. The harvest will arrive at the end of September and a series of increasingly urgent deadlines that bring us inexorably closer to the drama. Safe corridors need to be created as a matter of urgency for the safe transportation for grain and avoid a catastrophe”. Draghi declared, adding that "The only way is a UN resolution regulating navigation in the Black Sea, Russia has so far rejected it".
“We have seen the atrocities committed by Russia in this war in Irpin which we condemn without hesitation. We give our full support to the investigation of war crimes committed by the Russians,” said the Prime Minister.
“We are here to bring unconditional support to the Ukrainian people. A people who have formed an army to repel Russia's aggression and live in freedom. And Europe must have the same courage that Zelensky had, ”he continued.
“The EU has demonstrated and demonstrates today an extraordinary unity to support Ukraine in every way. Governments, parliaments and citizens have done it. I want to remember the great solidarity shown by the Italians and all Europeans to welcome those fleeing the bombings ”, concluded Draghi.
Zelensky: "We need a common response"
We need to arrive at a common position on support for our integration into the EU. Candidate status for Ukraine can strengthen freedom in Europe and become the most important decision of the third decade of the XNUMXst century. We understand that the road to the EU is not a single step, but this road must begin. Ukrainians are ready to continue on this path of becoming a candidate state,” the Ukrainian president said.
Visit to Irpin: Help Ukraine "for as long as it takes"
Before meeting Zelensky Draghi, Macron and Scholz went to Irpin, "where murders took place," said the French president. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi stopped in front of bombed out buildings: “You have the world on your side“he told local authorities. Draghi was received by the mayor of Irpin, Oleh Bondar, and the head of the regional military administration of Kiev, Oleksiy Kuleba. Here the Russians “destroyed kindergartens and kindergartens. Everything will be rebuilt. They've already started. They are already at a very advanced stage of evaluation,” Draghi told reporters on the sidelines of the visit. To those who asked him if a Marshall plan will be needed, the Premier replied: "We'll talk about it later".
"All this must be seen and known. I am grateful” for the testimony. “Unfortunately there have been massacres perpetrated in Bucha and other cities, they are war crimes,” Macron said. "Ukraine needs more effective defense weapons" to defend itself against the Russian invasion, he added, hailing the "heroism" of the Ukrainians. “Ukraine needs to be able to resist and win” the war, Macron said.
Chancellor Scholz pledged to help Ukraine “for as long as necessary“he said in an interview with the Bild newspaper. During this visit to Kiev - he said - "we don't just want to show our solidarity, but also to ensure that the aid we organize: financial, humanitarian, but also as regards weapons, continues". "We will continue as long as it is necessary for the struggle for the independence of Ukraine."
