3rd anniversary of Ukraine invasion: Trump calls Zelensky 'dictator', world leaders arrive in Kiev as EU provides 3.5 billion euros in new financial aid!
Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kiev by train on Monday morning to mark the third anniversary of the start of Russia's war against Ukraine and as Donald Trump's big push for negotiations rattles European allies, fueling fears that a hasty deal could leave the entire continent vulnerable to Kremlin expansionism.
The European Commission President is expected to unveil a €3.5 billion financial aid package to inject additional liquidity into Ukraine's strained budget and facilitate the purchase of military equipment by its domestic industry. The €3.5 billion is a down payment on a larger €50 billion aid fund that the European Union created in early 2024, called "Aid for Ukraine."
While Brussels has managed to cover Ukraine's financial needs for the entire year, the supply of weapons after the summer remains uncertain.
"We need to accelerate the immediate delivery of weapons and ammunition. And this will be at the heart of our work in the coming weeks, " von der Leyen told a media group on her way to the city.
We believe in a free and sovereign Ukraine on its path to the European Union. Von der Leyen will also announce an initiative to integrate Ukraine and Moldova into the bloc's electricity market by the end of the year. She will be joined in Kiev by her College of European Commissioners, who are scheduled to meet their counterparts from the Ukrainian government to deepen ties.
Other Western leaders, including European Council President António Costa, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will also be in the Ukrainian capital to mark the solemn anniversary. They will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reaffirm their solidarity and support.
The visit is von der Leyen's ninth to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, but it comes against a starkly different backdrop to her previous trips. European capitals are watching nervously as Donald Trump's efforts to launch a peace process between Ukraine and Russia have upended three years of transatlantic policy.
Tensions are rising after Trump attacked Zelenskyy, calling him a “dictator without an election” and blaming the invasion on Ukraine, not Russia. The remarks, which matched the Kremlin’s talking points, sparked anger in Europe and cast serious doubt on Trump’s ability or willingness to moderate peace talks.
Despite the backlash, the Republican president has shown no signs of softening his stance. "I've watched this man (Zelenskyy) for years now, as his cities are destroyed, his people are killed, as his soldiers are destroyed," Trump said in an interview last week. "I've watched for years and I've seen him negotiate without cards. He has no cards up his sleeve, and that's enough. That's enough. That's enough for me, that's enough."
Zelenskyy later said he would be willing to step down as president if it meant peace and NATO membership for his country. "I am focused on Ukraine's security today, not in 20 years, and I do not intend to stay in power for a decade. This is my focus and my greatest aspiration," he told a news conference.
Since Trump held a 90-minute call on February 12 with Vladimir Putin, uncoordinated with allies, Brussels has been trying to find its place in the rapid chain of events to ensure that its interests and concerns are taken into account.
The past week has seen a flurry of diplomatic activity, with calls and meetings between European leaders to close ranks and strengthen political unity. More talks are already underway: Macron will fly to Washington to meet face-to-face with Trump, and Costa will host an emergency summit of all 27 EU leaders on March 6.
During that summit, von der Leyen aims to present a "comprehensive plan" to increase arms production and defense capabilities across the bloc, which could also "benefit" Ukraine by bringing new weaponry to the fight against Russian troops, she said.
It is unclear whether the project will be enough to convince the White House that Europe deserves a seat at the negotiating table. Despite the continent seeing its long-term security deeply tied to Ukraine's stability, it has so far been sidelined from the negotiations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has tried to reassure Democratic allies by keeping them updated on his contacts with Russia and insisting that the contact does not represent an abrupt departure in American foreign policy. Rubio has said that the Europeans will be invited to the table when the time comes to ease sanctions on the Kremlin.
On her way to Kiev, von der Leyen raised the bar on offering Putin any concessions. " We will increase punitive sanctions against Russia if they do not show a real willingness to reach a lasting peace agreement," she said. A free and sovereign Ukraine is in the interest of the whole world.
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