New European Council President António Costa and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited Kyiv on Sunday in a show of EU support for Ukraine on their first day in office.
During their highly symbolic visit, the two want to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and assure him of the European Union’s support in light of Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine, which started in February 2022.
“We came to send a clear message that we stand with Ukraine and we continue to give full support to Ukraine,” Costa said. That included humanitarian, financial, military and diplomatic support, he added.
He said that one topic, in addition to the current conflict, would be their “common European future” and Ukraine’s planned integration into the EU.
Costa and Kallas both formally took office earlier, at midnight, along with the new team of commissioners under second-term European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
They will replace former European Council President Charles Michel and the bloc’s former top diplomat Josep Borrell after EU elections in June.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanischyna (R) welcomes the new EU Council President Antonio Costa (2nd from left), the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas (L) and the new EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos (2nd from right) as she arrives a few hours after taking office in Kiev. Ansgar Haase/dpa
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis (R) welcomes Kaja Kallas, the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, upon her arrival in Kiev shortly after taking office. Ansgar Haase/dpa
