A just peace, security guarantees and membership in the EU and NATO: foreign guests made important statements at the Support Ukraine Summit in Kyiv

On Monday, February 24, the leadership of the European Union and leaders and representatives of the governments of Ukraine's partner countries arrived in Kyiv. One of the goals of their official visit on the third anniversary of the full-scale war is to demonstrate support for Ukrainians in the fight against Russia.

They spoke at the plenary session of the Support Ukraine summit, which is being streamed online on the Presidential Office's YouTube channel. The foreign guests discussed issues of peace, security guarantees for Ukraine, and the future of collective security.

On February 24, Ukraine announced a large-scale air alert due to the takeoff of MiG-31K fighter jets in Russia – just as the leaders of partner countries were taking a joint photo at the Support Ukraine Summit in Kyiv.

Leaders of partner countries expressed support for Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened the Support Ukraine Summit with a speech in which he thanked the foreign guests for visiting the Ukrainian capital on a significant date. He said that Ukraine must win peace through strength and unity. According to him, one of the steps to end the war should be the exchange of prisoners in the "all for all" format, which our country is ready for.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda spoke about Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO and called for Kyiv to be provided with weapons. He suggested fixing January 1, 2030, as the date of Ukraine's accession to the EU.

"The opening of the first cluster of negotiations could be made possible in the coming weeks. Let's make Ukraine's path to the EU inevitable," he said.

Polish President Andrzej Duda joined the summit via an online link. He said that Russian dictator Putin will never take over Ukraine, peace must be fair and lasting, and Kyiv must be represented in any negotiations from the very beginning. The Polish leader promised Warsaw's continued support for Ukrainians, and at the same time, he called on NATO countries to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier agreed that Europeans and the West should do everything possible to prevent Ukraine from being forced to accept a "bad deal" on peace.

Czech President Petr Pavel said that European countries should continue to provide weapons and financial support to Ukrainians, as well as speed up Ukraine's accession to the EU and integration into the single European space.

Finland's leader Alexander Stubb warned that if Russia gets what it wants now, it will not stop at Ukraine, "Putin will continue to move forward," and he must be stopped.

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof assured that Ukraine can count on their unwavering military, financial and political support: both now and after the war.

"We don't know what the next weeks or months will bring, but the only way out for the Netherlands is a just, lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe," he said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also called on the partners to do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine gets a just and lasting peace, "which cannot be achieved without Ukrainians at the negotiating table." He promised to provide Kyiv with another 25 LAV III infantry fighting vehicles and four F-16 flight simulators. The country will also hand over the first installment of $5 billion in aid, funded by proceeds from frozen Russian assets.

Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter said that two weeks ago the country's parliament approved €1.5 billion in aid for Ukraine's recovery.

European Council President Antonio Costa said that "Europe is ready to increase financial and military support for Ukraine." Taco announced a special meeting of the European Council to discuss support for Kyiv and strengthening Europe's defense to be held next week.

"There will be no successful negotiations and no lasting peace without Ukraine and the EU. Only concrete and clear guarantees of the agreement will ensure a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe," he added.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen noted that an investment in Ukraine's sovereignty is an investment in preventing future wars.

European Parliament President Roberta Mecola expressed her belief that the next days and weeks "will shape our future." President of Moldova Maia Sandu emphasized that it was the courage of Ukrainians that helped her country stay safe and in peace, for which Chisinau will always be grateful and will never forget.

"I know that among our allies there are those who oppose Ukraine's accession to NATO. And so I ask the question: if we cannot provide Ukraine with NATO membership, what else can give it clear, long-term security guarantees? We need to find a real mechanism that will protect Ukraine from new aggression," said Danish President Mette Frederiksen in her speech at the summit.

Who among the foreign guests arrived in Kyiv on February 24

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa were the first to arrive in Kyiv. At the station, the train was met by the head of the Presidential Office, Andrii Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and the management of Ukrzaliznytsia.

"In Ukraine, about Ukraine, with Ukraine," Costa wrote on the social network X.

"On the third anniversary of Russia's brutal invasion, Europe is in Kyiv. We are in Kyiv today because Ukraine is Europe. In this struggle for survival, it is not only the fate of Ukraine that is at stake. It is the fate of Europe," commented von der Leyen.

Among the guests of the capital were also President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, and Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez.

In addition, the leaders of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden arrived in the capital of Ukraine in the morning. This was the third train with foreign delegations.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also arrived in Kyiv, as he wrote on the social network X.

"Proud to be here in Kyiv on the third anniversary of Putin's invasion. I applaud the continued heroism of the Ukrainian people in resisting the vile act of unprovoked aggression and categorically reject the strange lies that are being spread about the origins of that war," the politician said.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska, along with foreign leaders, paid tribute to the fallen defenders of Ukraine at the National Memorial of National Remembrance in Kyiv.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the European Union has recently made a decision in principle on sanctions against Russia. In particular, the EU will continue its restrictive policy towards the aggressor country, even if the United States lifts its sanctions against it.

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