Ukraine marks 3 years since Russia’s invasion amid concern about Trump’s stand on the war

Kyiv, Ukraine — A dozen leaders from Europe and Canada visited Ukraine’s capital Monday to mark three years since Russia’s invasion in a present of continued assist from a few of Kyiv’s most essential backers.

The guests have been greeted on the practice station by Ukrainian International Minister Andrii Sybiha and the president’s chief of employees, Andrii Yermak. Among the many guests have been European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In a publish on X, von der Leyen wrote that Europe was in Kyiv “as a result of Ukraine is in Europe.”

“On this struggle for survival, it isn’t solely the future of Ukraine that’s at stake. It is Europe’s future,” she wrote.

The friends, additionally together with European Council President Antonio Costa in addition to the prime ministers of Northern European international locations and Spain, have been set to attend occasions surrounding the three-year mark and focus on supporting Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid a latest U.S. policy shift under President Trump.

Within the newest signal of Europe’s efforts to remodel its technique on Ukraine to answer Mr. Trump’s actions, Costa on Sunday introduced that he would convene an emergency summit of the 27 EU leaders in Brussels on March 6, with Ukraine on the prime of the agenda.

“We live a defining second for Ukraine and European safety,” Costa stated in a publish on social media.

The three-year mark comes at a delicate second for Kyiv as Zelenskyy navigates a quickly altering worldwide setting upended by modifications to U.S. coverage by Mr. Trump.

The U.S. chief has sought to observe by on his marketing campaign guarantees to finish the battle shortly, although his strategies for doing so have alarmed many in Ukraine and Europe who consider his method is too conciliatory toward Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin.

Russia’s overseas ministry stated Saturday that preparations for a face-to-face meeting between Mr. Trump and Putin have been underway, and U.S. officers have acknowledged that they’d agreed with Moscow to reestablish diplomatic ties and restart financial cooperation.

And on Sunday, Russian Deputy International Minister Sergei Ryabkov instructed the state TASS information company that Moscow and Washington would proceed bilateral talks on the finish of subsequent week, including that “rather a lot” of contact was ongoing between the Russian and American sides.

Leaders throughout the EU, fearing each that Mr. Trump’s method to Ukraine would result in an unfavorable settlement for Kyiv and that they – a few of Ukraine’s most essential supporters – can be sidelined in negotiations for peace, have rushed to say their very own response to the quickly shifting setting.

On Monday, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna stated Ukraine and the USA have been “within the remaining levels” of figuring out an settlement that might give Washington entry to Ukrainian mineral sources in change for its assist.

“The negotiations have been very constructive, with almost all key particulars finalized,” Stefanishyna stated on social media.

“We’re dedicated to finishing this swiftly to proceed with its signature. We hope each U.S. and Ukraine leaders would possibly signal and endorse it in Washington the soonest to showcase our dedication for many years to return,” Stefanishyna stated.

The U.Ok. was anticipated to announce new sanctions towards Russia on Monday, having earlier described them as the largest bundle because the early days of the battle. International Secretary David Lammy on Sunday stated the measures can be aimed toward eroding Russia’s “navy machine and lowering revenues fueling the fires of destruction in Ukraine.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have been to each go to Washington this week as Europe makes an attempt to steer Mr. Trump to not abandon Ukraine in pursuit of a peace deal.

In the meantime, Ukrainian air defenses downed 113 drones launched by Russia at 12 areas in a single day with one other 71 “misplaced,” based on the every day air pressure report.

The report stated that because of the assault, the Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa, Kyiv, and Khmelnytskyi areas “suffered” however did not present additional particulars.

Russia launched a report 267 drones into Ukraine very early Sunday, destroying infrastructure and killing a minimum of 3 folks the day earlier than the world was to mark the third 12 months of Moscow’s invasion.

Zelenskyy stated on social media that it was “the most important assault since Iranian drones started hitting Ukrainian cities and villages.”

Ukraine’s air pressure stated 138 drones have been shot down over 13 Ukrainian areas, with 119 extra misplaced en path to their targets.