On May 9, as Russia celebrated its World War II Victory Day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv to show the European Union's support
for Ukraine. Ukraine has been under attack by Russia, and the two leaders discussed defence, sanctions on Russia and Ukraine's integration with Europe.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy highlighted Russia's military failures in Ukraine and criticised trade restrictions imposed by some of Ukraine's neighbours. Von der Leyen's trip fell on the day the EU celebrates as Europe Day, which Ukraine adopted as its own on Monday, underlining its ambition to join Western institutions after applying to join the EU last year. Photo by European Parliament from EU, Wikimedia commons.