Foreign leaders visit Ukraine to show their support on war's 3rd anniversary

It's important to put *** bit of context around the comments by Ukraine's president Vodimyr Zelensky that he would resign if it brought peace to Ukraine or if Ukraine became *** NATO member. Firstly, Ukraine isn't likely to become *** NATO member anytime soon. The US has been set against it and of course they probably wouldn't get that membership while they were at war. So that's highly unlikely to happen. And secondly, if Tsky did step aside, well that wouldn't really bring peace necessarily. It would usher in elections. Or some anointed successor. I'm not even sure how that would even necessarily work. I think the chaos there would leave Ukraine probably further away from peace. So he's outlining circumstances that are probably quite remote, but I think it's *** reflection of the awful week that's been had. And Zelensky's desire not to cling on to power personally indefinitely. He sort of laughed when he was asked if he was offended by being called *** dictator by President Donald Trump and said that if he was *** dictator he'd be. But he's not, so he wasn't, and I think this is really *** sign of how the two men's relationship has begun to overshadow so many of the complex tasks between the United States and Ukraine have urgently been on the table over the past week, particularly the rare earth minerals deal. I asked the president himself whether or not he felt that if they failed to sign that, it could impact future US aid and also about his relationship with President Trump. As I said, we want *** successful agreement. And if we will understand each other with partners, I hope that it will be we will sign this the first agreement uh or memo memo on which base we will, I mean, I will prepare other documents so I hope that it will not have influence on other. Uh, steps of the United States and they will not cancel or stop or freeze any support, especially military support to Ukraine. This is crucial for us. The president, my relationship with President Trump. It's never was in such. Best way The awkward laughter in the room there, I think *** reflection of the ugly reality of what we're dealing with here, that the free fall in relations between Trump and Zelensky is overshadowed so much this week, and in public, the two sides are so far apart, it seems, on this rare earth minerals deal. Zelensky rejecting the $5 trillion dollar demand from the Trump administration that appears to have been in earlier versions of the agreement may still be in the current. Under discussion negotiations indeed continue today. He rejects the notion that this previous aid was debt accrued by Ukraine, calling it grants. That's true. The Biden administration did not necessarily suggest that money would have to be repaid, but the current draft, as far as we know, publicly, does not contain the security guarantees or promises of future aid that Ukraine so urgent. needs so that an enormous hurdle and one that the acrimony, frankly we've seen on display in the past week between Trump and Zelensky is certainly not helping. So yes, awkward moments perhaps *** wry laugh from the Ukrainian president when asked about his relationship with Trump, but *** reflection I think of the exceptionally complex and unprecedented times that we're in. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Kiev, Ukraine.

A dozen leaders from Europe and Canada visited Ukraine's capital Monday to mark the third anniversary of the country's war with Russia in a conspicuous show of support for Kyiv amid deepening uncertainty about the Trump administration’s commitment to helping it fend off Russia’s invasion.Some of Ukraine's most important backers, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, were among the visitors greeted at the train station by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the president's chief of staff, Andrii Yermak.In a post on X, von der Leyen wrote that Europe was in Kyiv “because Ukraine is in Europe.”“In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny,” she wrote.Ukrainian and European officials have been rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s cordial approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his tough words for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.In a cascade of unwelcome developments for Kyiv, Trump has in recent days called Zelenskyy a dictator, suggested Ukraine is to blame for the war and ended Putin’s three-year diplomatic isolation by the United States. U.S. officials have also indicated to Ukraine that its hopes of joining NATO are unlikely to be realized and that it probably won’t get back the land that Russia’s army has occupied, amounting to nearly 20% of the country.Meanwhile, Putin’s troops are making steady progress on the battlefield while Ukraine is grappling with shortages of troops and weapons.Alarm bells sound in Europe as Washington changes courseThe guests, also including European Council President Antonio Costa as well as the prime ministers of Northern European countries and Spain, were set to attend events dedicated to the anniversary and discuss with Zelenskyy further support for Ukraine.The shift in Washington's policy has set off alarm bells in Europe, where governments fear being sidelined by the U.S. in efforts to secure a peace deal and are mulling how they might pick up the slack of any cut in U.S. aid for Ukraine. The changes have also placed strain on transatlantic relations.Costa on Sunday announced that he would convene an emergency summit of the 27 EU leaders in Brussels on March 6, with Ukraine at the top of the agenda.“We are living a defining moment for Ukraine and European security,” he said in a post on social media.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are to both visit Washington this week.EU foreign ministers on Monday approved a new raft of sanctions against Russia. The measures target Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of ships that it uses to skirt restrictions on transporting oil and gas, or to carry stolen Ukrainian grain. The EU said 74 vessels were added to its shadow fleet list.Asset freezes and travel bans were imposed on 83 officials and “entities” — usually government agencies, banks or companies.Diplomacy ramps up after record Russian drone attackThe EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, insisted that the U.S. cannot seal any peace deal to end the war without Ukraine or Europe being involved. She highlighted what she claimed were pro-Russian positions being taken up by the Trump administration.“You can discuss whatever you want with Putin. But if it comes to Europe or Ukraine, then Ukraine and Europe also have to agree to this deal,” Kallas told reporters in Brussels, where she is chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers.Kallas travels to Washington on Tuesday for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said the third anniversary was “a grim milestone.”“More than 12,600 civilians killed, with many more injured. Entire communities reduced to rubble. Hospitals and schools destroyed,” he said in Geneva.Trump, who is keen to shift the burden for supporting Ukraine onto Europe, has sought to follow through on his campaign promises to end the war quickly.Ukrainian officials say they don’t trust Putin and suspect his motives. On Sunday, Russia launched its biggest single drone attack of the war, pounding Ukraine with 267 drones.Russia's foreign ministry said Saturday that preparations for a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin were underway, and U.S. officials have said that they had agreed with Moscow to reestablish diplomatic ties and restart economic cooperation.And on Sunday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the state TASS news agency that “quite a lot” of contact was ongoing between the Russian and American sides.Asked whether the U.S. administration is acting in the interests of Russia or Ukraine’s Western backers, EU chief diplomat Kallas said: “If you look at the messages that come from the United States, then it’s clear that the Russian narrative is there very strongly represented.”German election winner sends message of support to KyivKallas rejected Trump’s earlier inflammatory assertion that Zelenskyy was a dictator for not having held elections after his regular term expired last year, saying, “Russia hasn’t had elections in 25 years."Ukrainian law prohibits elections being held while martial law is in place, and Zelenksyy said as recently as Sunday that after martial law is lifted, “there will be elections and people will make their choice.”Coming off a victory in Sunday's German elections, conservative leader Friedrich Merz — also a staunch backer of Ukraine — posted on X Monday: “More than ever, we must put Ukraine in a position of strength.“"For a fair peace, the country that is under attack must be part of peace negotiations,” Merz wrote.The U.K. was also expected to announce new sanctions against Russia on Monday, having earlier described them as the biggest package since the early days of the war. Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Sunday said the measures would be aimed at eroding Russia’s “military machine and reducing revenues fueling the fires of destruction in Ukraine.”___Associated Press writers Lorne Cook in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.

KYIV, Ukraine —

Some of Ukraine's most important backers, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, were among the visitors greeted at the train station by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the president's chief of staff, Andrii Yermak.

In a post on X, von der Leyen wrote that Europe was in Kyiv “because Ukraine is in Europe.”

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

Ukrainian and European officials have been rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s cordial approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his tough words for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In a cascade of unwelcome developments for Kyiv, Trump has in recent days called Zelenskyy a dictator, suggested Ukraine is to blame for the war and ended Putin’s three-year diplomatic isolation by the United States. U.S. officials have also indicated to Ukraine that its hopes of joining NATO are unlikely to be realized and that it probably won’t get back the land that Russia’s army has occupied, amounting to nearly 20% of the country.

Meanwhile, Putin’s troops are making steady progress on the battlefield while Ukraine is grappling with shortages of troops and weapons.

Alarm bells sound in Europe as Washington changes course

The guests, also including European Council President Antonio Costa as well as the prime ministers of Northern European countries and Spain, were set to attend events dedicated to the anniversary and discuss with Zelenskyy further support for Ukraine.

The shift in Washington's policy has set off alarm bells in Europe, where governments fear being sidelined by the U.S. in efforts to secure a peace deal and are mulling how they might pick up the slack of any cut in U.S. aid for Ukraine. The changes have also placed strain on transatlantic relations.

Costa on Sunday announced that he would convene an emergency summit of the 27 EU leaders in Brussels on March 6, with Ukraine at the top of the agenda.

“We are living a defining moment for Ukraine and European security,” he said in a post on social media.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are to both visit Washington this week.

EU foreign ministers on Monday approved a new raft of sanctions against Russia. The measures target Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of ships that it uses to skirt restrictions on transporting oil and gas, or to carry stolen Ukrainian grain. The EU said 74 vessels were added to its shadow fleet list.

Asset freezes and travel bans were imposed on 83 officials and “entities” — usually government agencies, banks or companies.

Diplomacy ramps up after record Russian drone attack

The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, insisted that the U.S. cannot seal any peace deal to end the war without Ukraine or Europe being involved. She highlighted what she claimed were pro-Russian positions being taken up by the Trump administration.

“You can discuss whatever you want with Putin. But if it comes to Europe or Ukraine, then Ukraine and Europe also have to agree to this deal,” Kallas told reporters in Brussels, where she is chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Kallas travels to Washington on Tuesday for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said the third anniversary was “a grim milestone.”

“More than 12,600 civilians killed, with many more injured. Entire communities reduced to rubble. Hospitals and schools destroyed,” he said in Geneva.

Trump, who is keen to shift the burden for supporting Ukraine onto Europe, has sought to follow through on his campaign promises to end the war quickly.

Ukrainian officials say they don’t trust Putin and suspect his motives. On Sunday, Russia launched its biggest single drone attack of the war, pounding Ukraine with 267 drones.

Russia's foreign ministry said Saturday that preparations for a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin were underway, and U.S. officials have said that they had agreed with Moscow to reestablish diplomatic ties and restart economic cooperation.

And on Sunday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the state TASS news agency that “quite a lot” of contact was ongoing between the Russian and American sides.

Asked whether the U.S. administration is acting in the interests of Russia or Ukraine’s Western backers, EU chief diplomat Kallas said: “If you look at the messages that come from the United States, then it’s clear that the Russian narrative is there very strongly represented.”

German election winner sends message of support to Kyiv

Kallas rejected Trump’s earlier inflammatory assertion that Zelenskyy was a dictator for not having held elections after his regular term expired last year, saying, “Russia hasn’t had elections in 25 years."

Ukrainian law prohibits elections being held while martial law is in place, and Zelenksyy said as recently as Sunday that after martial law is lifted, “there will be elections and people will make their choice.”

Coming off a victory in Sunday's German elections, conservative leader Friedrich Merz — also a staunch backer of Ukraine — posted on X Monday: “More than ever, we must put Ukraine in a position of strength.“

"For a fair peace, the country that is under attack must be part of peace negotiations,” Merz wrote.

The U.K. was also expected to announce new sanctions against Russia on Monday, having earlier described them as the biggest package since the early days of the war. Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Sunday said the measures would be aimed at eroding Russia’s “military machine and reducing revenues fueling the fires of destruction in Ukraine.”

___

Associated Press writers Lorne Cook in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.

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