On March 31, a delegation of foreign ministers from European Union countries arrived in Kyiv, accompanied by the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, welcomed the European guests at the capital’s railway station.
This is reported by Finway
Support for Ukraine and New EU Initiatives
During the visit, Josep Borrell emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine in its fight for independence and freedom. He noted that each visit by European diplomats serves as a powerful signal of solidarity and a reminder of the resilience of the Ukrainian people. According to him, the European Union will continue to provide military, financial, energy, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and will work to ensure that Russia’s crimes do not go unpunished.
“It is a pleasure to be in Kyiv today with the foreign ministers of European countries. Each visit is a powerful reminder of Ukraine’s courage and resilience. Europe stands with you. We will continue to provide military, financial, energy, and humanitarian support. And we will do everything possible to ensure full accountability for Russia’s crimes”
Commemoration of the Victims of Bucha and European Solidarity
One of the key objectives of the visit was to commemorate the anniversary of the mass killings of civilians in Bucha, which were carried out by Russian military forces during the occupation of Kyiv region from February to March 2022. Andrii Sybiha emphasized that the date of the visit is symbolic, as it is now that the Ukrainian side, together with its partners, seeks to highlight the necessity of holding all those responsible for these crimes accountable.
Sybiha stressed that the presence of European ministers in Kyiv on this day is evidence of Europe’s determination to support the restoration of justice. He described the visit as a sign of true courage and solidarity of the EU with Ukraine and confirmed that joint efforts will be directed towards holding accountable those involved in aggression and war crimes.
Recently, the European Commission called on EU member states to join in creating a special tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Andrii Sybiha positively assessed this initiative, especially ahead of the tragic anniversaries of the events in Bucha.
During the occupation of the Kyiv region from February 24 to March 31, 2022, Russian troops committed mass killings among the local population. After the region was liberated in early April, numerous testimonies about the crimes and brutality of the occupiers were collected. According to the Archive Department of the Bucha City Council, 554 civilians were killed in the community during the period of Russian occupation.
At the same time, Russia continues to deny its involvement in the mass killings in Bucha. The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that during its troops’ presence in the city, “no local residents were harmed by any violent actions,” while Putin referred to the events in Bucha as a “fake” and a “provocation.”