European politicians have been flocking to the Ukrainian capital since Russian forces withdrew from the north in the face of strong Ukrainian resistance earlier this month. Before meeting with Zelensky, the four presidents visited areas in the Kiev region where hundreds of dead civilians were discovered after the Russian withdrawal. Moscow has denied responsibility and denied allegations that its troops committed war crimes there as false news. read more Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register “This is not a war, this is terrorism,” Polish President Andrei Duda said at a news conference in Kyiv, accompanied by Zelensky and the presidents of the Baltic states. “We are not talking only about the soldiers who committed these crimes, but about those who issued the orders – all of them must be brought to justice,” he said. Russia has denied that its forces targeted civilians and said Ukrainian and Western war crimes charges were fabricated. Russia’s desire to be held accountable has been echoed by other visiting presidents, who have also said they plan to press the international community to increase military support for Ukraine as it prepares for an intensified Russian offensive in the East. “It is our duty to help Ukraine with all kinds of weapons,” said Latvian President Egils Levic. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not shown) at the Presidentura Palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, March 7, 2022. Olivier Douliery / Pool via REUTERS / Stock Photo read more Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda said, “Ukraine’s future will be decided on the battlefield … Ukraine must win.” The four presidents’s visit came a day after US President Joe Biden said Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine was tantamount to genocide, with Russian President Vladimir Putin promising that Moscow would continue “rhythmically and calmly” and continue to operate. its goals. read more Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24 in what he calls a “special military operation” to demilitarize and “denationalize” the country. Ukraine and its allies say Putin has launched an unprovoked offensive war. “President Putin must lose this war or there will be no peace in Europe,” said Estonian President Alar Karis. German Chancellor Olaf Soltz has expressed “frustration” after President Frank-Walter Steinmeier canceled a visit to Kyiv at the same time. He said he intended to “send a strong message of European solidarity to Ukraine”. Scholz said Steinmeier did not want to visit Kyiv. read more However, at Wednesday’s press conference, Zelensky said he had not been formally approached by Steinmeier or his office about a visit. Speaking about his guests in Kyiv, Zelensky said he was grateful that they stood “shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine”. “These four leaders of the four nations are always protecting us, always defending us,” he said. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Pawel Florkiewicz and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw and Andrius Sytas in Vilnius and Alessandra Prentice in Kyiv. Written by Andrius Sytas and Alessandra Prentice. Edited by Mark Heinrich and Cynthhia Osterman Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
