Macron, Scholz, Draghi in Kyiv for first visit since Russian invasion

Macron, Scholz, Draghi in Kyiv for first visit since Russian invasion
June 16, 2022, 10:10 am

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to journalists as he arrives at the train station in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 16, 2022. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS

The Anews reported, citing agencies, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi arrived in Kyiv on Thursday (June 16) for their first visit to Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

It said that the leaders arrived on a special train from Poland, with AFP images showing them descending onto a platform in the Ukrainian capital.

It is their first trip to Ukraine since the Russian invasion of the country launched on February 24.

The visit comes as Ukraine is pushing to be given official candidate status to join the European Union.

The trio had travelled onboard a special train that left Poland in the early hours of Thursday (June 16).

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk walks next to French President Emmanuel Macron at the train station, in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 16, 2022. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS

German media said they had met "in the night" in Poland's south-eastern city of Rzeszow, which has an international airport.

They arrived separately and met on board shortly after the train's departure.

The French leader had just finished a visit to Moldova, one of Ukraine's neighbours.

NATO chief urges ‘more heavy weapons’ for Ukraine

Romanian leader Klaus Iohannis is due to join his French, German and Italian counterparts in Kyiv later on Thursday.

Other Western leaders have also visited Kyiv in recent weeks, after the Russian army retreated from its advance on the Ukrainian capital at the start of the invasion.

Source: aa

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