News Feed, Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, European Union, Kyiv, Ukraine

European leaders arrive in Kyiv on 3rd anniversary of full-scale war

by Martin Fornusek February 24, 2025 8:10 AM

(Updated: February 24, 2025 10:13 AM) 2 min read

Leaders of partner countries arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2025, for the Support Ukraine summit, held on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. (Presidential Office)

This audio is created with AI assistance

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Feb. 24 on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

European leaders and other partners are arriving in Kyiv for a summit to discuss the country's strategy for possible negotiations and security guarantees. The meeting is taking place amid uncertainty about the U.S.'s continued commitment to Ukraine's and Europe's security under President Donald Trump.

"We are in Kyiv today, because Ukraine is Europe," von der Leyen said on X.

"In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny."

0:00

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Feb. 24, 2025, on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. (Ursula von der Leyen/X)

Thirteen leaders are expected to join the summit in person, and 24 would join the event online, President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed at a press conference on Feb. 23.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal arrived soon after Costa and von der Leyen.

Other leaders, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, Icelandic Prime Minister, Kristrun Frostadottir, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson are also in the capital, Suspilne reported.

Boris Johnson, the former U.K. prime minister, also announced his arrival.

"I am proud to be here in Kyiv on the third anniversary of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s invasion. I salute the continuing heroism of the Ukrainian people in resisting a vile act of unprovoked aggression and I categorically reject the bizarre untruths currently being peddled about the origins of that war," Johnson said on X.

Author: Martin Fornusek

Independent journalism needs a community —
not a paywall.

We’re working hard to show the world the truth of Russia’s brutal war — and we’re keeping it free for everyone, because reliable information should be available to all.

Our goal: reach 20,000 members to prove independent journalism can survive without paywalls, billionaires, or compromise. Will you help us do it?

Can we reach 20,000 members?

Become a member

News Feed

5:46 AM

Ukraine to skip $665 million debt payment, Bloomberg reports.

Ukraine will skip a $665 million government debt payment after failing to agree on restructuring terms with creditors, Bloomberg reported.

4:23 AM

Russia sent Ukraine 65 civilians slated for deportation in major prisoner exchange.

In a prisoner exchange from May 23 to 25, Russia sent Ukraine 65 prisoners who were set to be deported to Ukraine regardless of the swap, Suspilne reported on May 30.

2:34 AM

Kremlin fabricated story on Putin’s near-miss with Ukrainian drones, Moscow Times reports.

Claims of Russian President Vladimir Putin's helicopter being "at the epicenter" of a Ukrainian drone attack in Kursk Oblast were reportedly fabricated by the Kremlin, the Moscow Times reported on May 30, citing four Russian government sources.

11:51 PM

Trump 'very surprised, disappointed' at Russian attacks on Ukraine amid peace talks.

"I've gotten to see things I was very surprised at. Rockets being shot into cities like Kyiv during a negotiation that was maybe very close to ending," Trump said during a news conference in the Oval Office. "All of a sudden rockets got shot into a couple of cities and people died. I saw thing I was surprised at and I don't like being surprised, so I'm very disappointed in that way."

5:37 PM

(Updated: May 30, 2025 11:28 pm)

Espionage

The Hungary-Ukraine spy scandal and Russia's possible role, explained

11:02 PM

Zelensky, Erdogan discuss proposed June 2 peace talks in phone call.

"We both agree that such a meeting cannot and should not be empty," Zelensky said on social media following the call. "There must be a ceasefire to move further toward peace. The killings must stop."

10:15 PM

Easing fears of US pullback, Trump to appoint next chief of NATO's European command, Reuters reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to appoint the next Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), reaffirming a key American role in NATO's military structure, Reuters reported.

10:06 PM

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims

9:58 PM

Zelensky doubts June 2 talks will yield results as Russia withholds ceasefire plan.

"The Russians have been unable to present the so-called 'memorandum' for over a week, which they promised to prepare immediately after the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. "Ukraine has not received any documents from them."

8:58 PM

Senate to 'start moving' Russia sanctions bill next week, Graham says.

The proposed bill would introduce expansive penalties on Russia and impose 500% tariffs on imports from countries purchasing Russian fossil fuels.

7:28 PM

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 27

7:16 PM

Russia may 'consider' ceasefire if Ukraine stops mobilization, arms deliveries, ambassador says.

Russia's envoy to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, pledged that Moscow would "continue and intensify military operations for as long as necessary."

7:06 PM

Poland

Ukraine watches closely as Poland faces polarizing presidential run-off

6:19 PM

Ukraine offers $4,800 bonus to new doctors in rural, combat zones.

The new measure, set to take effect in 2025, is aimed at addressing critical staffing shortages in front-line and underserved regions from which many residents — and professionals — have fled due to ongoing Russian attacks.

4:05 PM

(Updated: May 30, 2025 5:22 pm)

Ukraine attacks elite Russian unit base nearly 7,000km away in Vladivostok, source claims.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) was behind the explosions near Desantnaya Bay in Russia's Vladivostok on May 30, which reportedly damaged military personnel and equipment, a source in HUR told the Kyiv Independent.

5:19 PM

Putin in favor of meeting Zelensky, Trump if progress is made in peace talks, Kremlin says.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stressed that a high-level summit would require concrete outcomes from the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations.

5:10 PM

Video

All territory will revert to Ukraine, predicts US diplomat.

The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York sits down with Michael Carpenter, former U.S. Ambassador to OSCE and senior director for Europe at the National Security Council, to discuss the current lagging U.S. military support for Ukraine amid the ongoing ceasefire talks with Russia. Carpenter also offers his predictions for the future of Ukraine’s occupied territories.

3:29 PM

Ukraine's memorandum proposes ceasefire across land, air, and sea, NYT reports.

Kyiv and its allies have urged Moscow to adopt an unconditional ceasefire starting May 12 as the first step toward peace talks — a proposal Russia has ignored.

3:07 PM

War analysis

Russia ‘tests’ Europe’s capacity to help Ukraine with intensifying air attacks

1:55 PM

Opinion

War’s unseen isolation: A Ukrainian officer’s story of survival and hope

1:40 PM

Ukraine ready for 2nd round of Istanbul talks but seeks Russian draft memo in advance, Yermak says.

"Ukraine is ready to attend the next meeting, but we want to engage in a constructive discussion. This means it is important to receive Russia’s draft. There is enough time – four days are sufficient for preparing and sending the documents," Presidential Office Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said.

7:56 PM

(Updated: May 30, 2025 12:50 pm)

Religion

Detention, pressure, threats — US pastor in Ukraine tells the Kyiv Independent about his encounter with Russians

2:30 AM

(Updated: May 30, 2025 11:41 am)

Russians aren't happy about Putin's 'buffer zone,' intercepted call released by Ukraine's HUR suggests.

"Well, in short, it's clear that they're going to kick everyone out of the border areas and create a gray zone," a Belgorod Oblast resident says in a call intercepted by Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR).

11:23 AM

Over 89,000 Russian targets struck in May using drones, Ukraine's commander claims.

"Each drone means a destroyed enemy, and therefore a saved life of a Ukrainian serviceman. A special emphasis is placed on the destruction of enemy UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) operators and their command centers," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

10:10 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 7, injure 39 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 26 out of the 90 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Thirty drones were intercepted by electronic warfare or disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement.

MORE NEWS

European leaders arrive in Kyiv on 3rd anniversary of full-scale war

Independent journalism needs a community — not a paywall.

Can we reach 20,000 members?

Most popular

News Feed

Editors' Picks

Subscribe

Independent journalism needs a community —
not a paywall.