Russia-Ukraine conflict: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland leaders travel to Ukraine

Several world leaders have been making a visit to Ukraine amidst the war that Russia continues to wage on the country. This week, the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland visited Ukraine in a show of support.

The leaders of the four European countries are visiting Kyiv this week in a show of support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Estonia President Alar Karis, Latvia President Egils Levits, Lithuania President Gitanas Nauseda, and Poland President Andrzej Duda all visited Kyiv.

“Heading to Kyiv with a strong message of political support and military assistance,” tweeted Nauseda. “Lithuania will continue backing Ukraine’s fight for its sovereignty and freedom.”

“This visit of four close friends was planned a long time ago. Our states support Ukrainian interests and demands. Ukraine is fighting for its independence and for Europe. We expressed full solidarity with the people, the government of Ukraine, and President Zelenskyy,” tweeted Levits.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was set to also go on the trip but said Tuesday that he was “not welcome” by Ukraine. Steinmeier’s comments followed reports of an unnamed Ukrainian diplomat saying that the German leader was not welcome in Ukraine at this time. Zelenskyy has previously criticized Steinmeier’s advocacy of Western rapprochement with Russia.

The visit of the four leaders follows the visit of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Ukraine last week, pledging to send over $130 million worth of weaponry to Ukraine. Johnson’s office said his surprise trip and a one-on-one meeting with Zelenskyy was a show of support for the Ukrainian people.

US President Joe Biden recently accused Russian dictator Vladimir Putin of committing genocide in his war with Ukraine, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed with the US leader’s description, saying that more people are right to use “genocide” to describe Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Trudeau stopped short of making the same claim.

“I think as President Biden highlighted, there are official processes around determinations of genocide. But I think it’s absolutely right that more and more people be talking and using the word “genocide” in terms of what Russia is doing,” said Trudeau.

Trudeau cited the attacks by Russian forces targeting civilians, including the bombing of a train station in Ukraine that killed over 50 people, and sexual violence as examples of war crimes and crimes against humanity.