Romanian President Klaus Iohannis arrived in Kyiv on Thursday morning around 10 a.m., where he joined Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Mario Draghi for a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky that could be decisive for the course of the war.
Klaus Iohannis arrived in Kyiv on a separate train from the other three leaders, making the junction in the Ukrainian capital. The President of Romania was welcomed at the station by Olga Stefanişina, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, and then, together with Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Mario Draghi visited Irpin, one of the cities on the outskirts of Kiev, that became a symbol of the destruction and atrocities committed during the occupation of the region by the Russian army in March.
Volodymyr Zelensky did not accompany the four leaders on their journey through the hardly affected city from the capital’s metropolitan area, with the long-awaited meeting taking place later on Thursday afternoon.
In Irpin, the European leaders were accompanied by armed Ukrainian soldiers, surrounded by a strong security device and a crowd of journalists.
They were officially received by authorities and spoke about the situation in the city and the time needed for reconstruction.
Iohannis reiterates call for Russian perpetrators to be held accountable by the international criminal justice
“There are no words to describe the unimaginable human tragedy and terrible destruction we have seen today in Irpin. I strongly reiterate my call for all Russian perpetrators to be held accountable by the international criminal justice, which Romania fully supports,” Iohannis wrote on Twitter.
Before entering the official talks with Zelensky, the dignitaries took the traditional photo together, one that could be historic for the course of the war in Ukraine .
President Klaus Iohannis’ visit to Kyiv came just a day after he met at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base with French President Emmanuel Macron. On Wednesday, in Romania, Macron foreshadowed to some extent the message that Europe will send to Zelensky. The Ukrainian president will have to negotiate with Russia, and the Europeans will also be present at the negotiating table, bringing security guarantees, Macron said in the conference held at the Mihai Kogalniceanu base.
It’s our responsibility to keep this momentum & help our Ukrainian friends forge a new future
“We are here together with President Zelensky because we know it’s our duty to act. It’s our responsibility to keep this momentum & help our Ukrainian friends forge a new future. Focus on the need for peace, the reconstruction effort & the rebuilding of this country’s future,” President Iohannis wrote on Twitter where he also posted several photos from the meeting with President Zelensky.
Photo: www.presidency.ro
