The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenhas arrived early in the morning in Kyiv where it has been received by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenski.

“It’s good to be back in Kyiv. Where the values ​​we hold dear are defended every day,” Von der Leyen herself announced on Twitter. “My presence in Kyivv today, May 9, is symbolic, but it is also the sign of a crucial and very practical reality: the EU works hand in hand with Ukraine on many issues,” von der Leyen told a newsroom reporter. Union, of which EFE is a part, on the train that took her to Kyiv.

This is the fifth visit that the head of the European Executive has made to Ukraine since the Russian invasion of February 24, 2022 and it coincides with Europe Day; holiday of the European Union that from today the Ukrainian authorities will celebrate every May 9, thus turning their backs on the Soviet tradition of commemorating the Victory Day against Nazism.

This visit is a reaffirmation of Europe’s support for the country attacked by Russia and marks the start of accession negotiations. In addition, the “strict” application of sanctions against Russia will be discussed, among other issues.

Previously, Von der Leyen had traveled to the Ukrainian capital four times since the outbreak of the war, on the last occasion, in February, he held a meeting between a group of commissioners and the Ukrainian governmentin a sign of deepening relations just weeks before the anniversary of the invasion.

The EU is already discussing the 11th round of sanctions against Moscow, once the European Commission put its proposal on the table last Friday. As explained by the spokesman, the new package focuses on the effectiveness of the sanctions and on how to prevent actors from diverting the measures, specifically in terms of exports to Russia.