Russia-Ukraine war live: EU vows to stand by Kyiv amid reports European and US officials discuss possible peace terms

EU to stand by Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes’, pledges Von der Leyen

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU will stand by Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.

She posted on X: “I’m here to discuss Ukraine’s accession path to the EU. The EU’s financial support to rebuild Ukraine as a modern, prosperous democracy.”

Von der Leyen reportedly added that her sixth visit to Ukraine since the Russian invasion would also involve conversations around a fresh EU sanctions package against Russia, set to include a ban on Russian diamonds.

She will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior Ukrainian officials in Kyiv, amid concerns that the EU and the US may have lost the enthusiasm to provide the country long term funding to keep it afloat while funding the war effort.

The Financial Times reports that the message she is sending through all of this is that Brussels will continue to prioritise the country while supporting its western aspirations.

“Of course the enlargement topic will be at the top of the agenda but also our financial and military support,” Von der Leyen told reporters. “The most important message is reassuring that we stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.”