European Council President Antonio Costa and Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv today (Sunday), using the first day in their new roles to send a message of support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Their visit comes as Ukraine struggles to fend off a grinding Russian offensive and faces the uncertainty of U.S. policy toward Kyiv when Donald Trump takes office next month.
“From day one of the war, the EU has stood by the side of Ukraine,” Costa posted on X alongside an image of himself, Kallas and EU enlargement chief Marta Kos arriving via train.
“From day one of our mandate, we are reaffirming our unwavering support to the Ukrainian people.”
Both Kallas and Costa have been strong supporters of Ukraine since Russia’s February 2022 invasion. However, neither can make specific pledges of further aid, requiring the support of the EU’s national governments.
The EU says its institutions and member countries have made available some $133 billion in Ukraine aid since the start of the war, but future support remains uncertain especially if Trump reduces U.S. support.
Trump has criticised the scale of aid for Kyiv and has said he will seek a swift end to the war, but without specifying exactly how.
On the battlefield, Moscow’s troops are capturing village after village in a drive to eventually seize the industrial Donbas region, while Russian airstrikes are targeting Ukraine’s hobbled energy grid as winter sets in. (reuters)
