New European Council President António Costa and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited Kiev on Sunday for a show of EU support for Ukraine on their first day in office.
During their highly symbolic visit, the pair plan 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 began in February 2022.
“We came to give a clear message that we stand for Ukraine and we continue give full support for Ukraine,” Costa said. That included humanitarian, financial, military and diplomatic support, he added.
He said one topic, besides the current conflict, would be their “common European future” and the planned integration of Ukraine into the EU.
Costa and Kallas both formally took up office hours earlier, at midnight, along with the new team of commissioners under the second term of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
They replace former European Council president Charles Michel and the bloc’s previous top diplomat Josep Borrell, following EU elections in June.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanischyna (R) welcomes the new EU Council President Antonio Costa (2nd L), the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas (L), and the new EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos (2nd R) as they arrive in Kiev a few hours after taking office. 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 Kyiv shortly after taking office. Ansgar Haase/dpa
