Topline
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv this week, according to the chief spokesperson for the Commission on Tuesday, as a growing number of European countries expel Russian diplomats over alleged atrocities committed by Russian forces in Bucha, Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Velensky in Kyiv.
Key Facts
Von der Leyen will be accompanied by Josep Borrell, the EU’s leading diplomat, her spokesperson announced.
The visit by two of the European Union’s highest-ranking officials comes ahead of a “Stand Up For Ukraine” event in Warsaw on Saturday.
The event, convened by von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with the participation of Polish president Andrzej Duda, is intended to raise funds and support for people displaced by the conflict.
The announcement comes as an increasing number of European countries expel Russian diplomats over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, including reports of rape, summary execution and violence against civilians.
France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania and Denmark all ordered Russian diplomats to leave in the wake of alleged war crimes in Bucha, which foreign ministries said was part of concerted European action against Moscow.
Latvia also said it will be scaling back diplomatic relations with Russia in response to reported atrocities in Bucha, though said specific details will be provided in the future.
Key Background
Von der Leyen and Borrell are the latest European leaders to visit Ukraine and Zelensky since Russia launched its invasion over a month ago. In late March, European Parliament president Roberta Metsola was the first leader of an EU institution to visit and show support since the war began. Metsola’s trip came after a joint visit by the leaders of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, who traveled to Kyiv by train. Increasing allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide perpetrated by Russian forces, particularly in retaken areas of the Kyiv region like Bucha, has prompted an upswell in international support for Ukraine and commensurate condemnation of Russia. Zelensky accused Russia of killing and torturing more than 300 people in Bucha alone in an overnight address on Tuesday, a figure he said is almost certain to grow as the city and others reclaimed from Russian forces are searched more thoroughly. In addition to expelling diplomats, the European Union is reportedly preparing another round of sanctions against Moscow this week, something President Joe Biden said he is also pushing for the U.S. to do.
Crucial Quote
The EU will be sending investigators to Ukraine to support efforts to document alleged Russian war crimes, von der Leyen said on Monday. “The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must not go unpunished,” she added.
Further Reading
‘Heinous.’ Von der Leyen backs Russia war crimes probe (Politico)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2022/04/05/eu-chief-von-der-leyen-will-visit-zelensky-in-kyiv-as-more-countries-expel-russian-diplomats-over-bucha/