Kyiv, Ukraine – European Union leaders arrived in Kyiv on Monday morning, showing solidarity amid tensions with the United States, on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

“We are in Kyiv today, because Ukraine is Europe. In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny,” EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on social media with a video of her arriving in Kyiv alongside Antonio Costa, president of the European Council.

“A free and sovereign Ukraine is in the interest of the entire world,” Von der Leyen said ahead of her meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.

“We must speed up the immediate delivery of weapons and ammunition,” she said, calling for urgent military aid for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Zelensky, on Monday, honoured Ukraine’s resilience, calling it three years of resistance, gratitude, and heroism.

In a post on social media, he thanked all those defending and supporting Ukraine.

Rival resolutions on Ukraine

On the third anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine the United States is pressuring Ukraine to drop its UN General Assembly resolution demanding Russia’s immediate withdrawal in favour of a US-backed version that does not mention Moscow’s invasion.

Both resolutions will be voted on Monday as Ukraine has refused to withdraw its proposal.

The US draft urges a ‘swift end’ to the conflict but does not reaffirm Ukraine’s territorial integrity, a key departure from previous US stance.

Earlier, on Sunday, the US sent a diplomatic note, according to Reuters, asking countries to ‘vote no on any other resolution or amendments presented’ during Monday’s meeting.

The Trump administration is also seeking a vote on its proposal in the UN Security Council.

The competing resolutions highlight growing tensions between the US, Ukraine, and European nations over Trump’s evolving diplomatic strategy.

European allies, frustrated by being left out of recent US-Russia talks, view this shift as part of Trump’s efforts to broker a deal with Moscow.

Monday’s vote will be a test of global sentiment, particularly of the Trump administration’s strong-arm approach to UN diplomacy. Last week, Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called the US resolution ‘a good move’.

Zelensky hopes for German collaboration

Zelensky, meanwhile, congratulated German conservative Friedrich Merz on his election victory, expressing hopes for collaboration to ‘strengthen Europe’ and bring peace to Ukraine.

“Europe must be able to defend itself, develop its industries, and achieve the necessary results,” Zelensky posted on social media. “Europe needs shared successes, and those success will bring even greater unity to Europe.”

After his victory, Merz reaffirming his campaign stance that Europe must take more responsibility for its own defence. He announced that strengthening Europe will be the priority.

New EU sanctions against Russia

Meanwhile, the European Union imposed a new round of sanctions on Russia on Monday.

This is the 16th EU sanctions package against Russia and includes a ban on primary aluminium imports, the sale of gaming consoles and the listing of 73 shadow fleet vessels.

“This new round of sanctions not only targets the Russian shadow fleet but those who support the operation of unsafe oil tankers, videogame controllers used to pilot drones, banks used to circumvent our sanctions, and propaganda outlets used to spout lies,” EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas said.

“We have to support Ukraine right now, more than ever,” Kallas said ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

DW