Was the trip coordinated with Brussels or was it planned alone out of frustration at the inaction of the EU? The President of Ukraine will definitely appreciate the visit.
In addition to Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (pictured), his Slovenian and Polish counterparts also traveled to Kyiv.
Mateusz Morawiecki, Petr Fiala and Janez Jansa made a surprise trip to Kyiv on Tuesday to demonstrate their support for Ukraine and to increase pressure on Russian President Putin. In official statements and tweets, the heads of government of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia emphasized that they were traveling as representatives of the EU, i.e. in consultation with the other European heads of government as well as Council President Michel and Commission President von der Leyen.
Comprehensive aid package promised
The aim of the visit is to express the EU’s unequivocal support for Ukraine and its freedom and independence, according to an official Polish statement. At the same time, a comprehensive European aid package for Ukraine and its citizens will be presented in Kyiv.
The mission is said to have been decided at the EU summit in Versailles at the end of last week. For security reasons, however, it was kept secret until Tuesday morning, when the three heads of government crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border on the train.
Traveling by train overland
Such a journey overland in the middle of the war was dangerous and certainly a courageous gesture. Flying was out of the question and because the journey by car would have taken a long time, politicians opted for the train. In peacetime it would have taken about seven hours by rail from the Polish border to Kyiv, but at the moment there is chaos and trains often stop in between.
The prime ministers only reached Kyiv in the evening. “Here, in war-torn Kyiv, history is being made,” wrote Morawiecki on Twitter. He and his companions will hold talks with President Selenski and Prime Minister Schmihal.
It is here, in war torn Kyiv, that history is being made. It is here, that freedom fights against the world of tyranny. It is here that the future of us all hangs in the balance. EU supports UA, which can count on the help of its friends – we brought this message to Kyiv today. pic.twitter.com/Us7k9xTq5f
— Mateusz Morawiecki (@MorawieckiM) March 15, 2022
The East-Central European delegation seems to be counting on the Russians not daring to attack them during their stay in Ukraine. In Brussels, however, people are apparently quite irritated and concerned. An EU spokesman told the BBC, the prime ministers have no formal mandate from the EU. Brussels was only informed about the plans on Tuesday night.
Increasing disagreements
As the war progresses, the differences of opinion between EU and NATO members are becoming clear. As far as sanctions and other measures against Russia are concerned, positions are increasingly divided. Those who are geographically in the immediate vicinity of the conflict are demanding much tougher measures. For the others, economic interests continue to have priority. Apparently Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia are frustrated and want to set an example.
Also taking part in Kyiv is Poland’s deputy prime minister and strongman, Jaroslaw Kaczynski. In Poland there is talk of “a journey with personal and historical significance”. Because after the Russian attack on Georgia in 2008, his brother Lech Kaczynski, who has since died, traveled there and warned of a creeping Russian expansion in Eastern Europe. Now Yaroslav also wants to use the opportunity to warn the world about Russia.
At the same time, the politician, who is controversial in Europe, apparently wants to make a name for himself as a European. In the Polish newspaper «Rzeczpospolita» there is talk of a “visit by an EU delegation to Kyiv”. So far, Kaczynski’s ruling party PiS has been at loggerheads with Brussels not only because of Poland’s democratic deficits, but also because of their restrictive and lacking solidarity migration policy. Now it is suddenly Warsaw that is demanding more solidarity and commitment from the EU.
Hundreds of doctors and patients held hostage
Representatives of Russia and Ukraine continued negotiations on Tuesday, but apparently there are still no results. The Russian advance is being held back by the Ukrainians on various fronts in the east and south. On Tuesday, however, the invaders again fired on various cities. The capital was rocked by heavy explosions. Several apartment buildings in the east, north and west of Kiev were destroyed. A metro station that had served as a shelter for local residents was also damaged. Mayor Vitali Klitschko imposed a curfew from Tuesday evening to protect citizens.
Hundreds of thousands remain trapped in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol. A convoy of 2,000 cars was able to leave the city for the first time on Tuesday. However, Russia continues to prevent the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to supply the city and evacuate civilians. According to the deputy mayor, Russian soldiers have occupied the city’s main hospital and are holding hundreds of patients and doctors hostage.
The West continues to turn the sanctions screw
Meanwhile, the EU agreed on Tuesday morning another package of sanctions against Putin’s regime, including a ban on steel imports and investments in Russia’s energy sector. Britain imposed new sanctions on 370 Russian individuals and imposed heavy punitive tariffs on Russian vodka.
The Kremlin ordered an entry ban for President Joe Biden and other high-ranking American officials on Tuesday. However, this should hardly hurt those affected, in contrast to the measures that have been taken against the power clique around Putin.