Ursula von der Leyen visits Kyiv on Statehood Day with fresh Ukraine support

Kyiv,UPDATED: Jul 15, 2026 15:50 IST

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv on Wednesday to mark Ukraine's annual Statehood Day, pledging continued military and financial support for the country's independence as it continues to resist Russia's full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year.

Her visit came as senior officials from south-eastern European countries were also expected in Kyiv for a periodic meeting focused on Black Sea and regional security. Ukraine marked the public holiday against the backdrop of a war that has killed thousands of soldiers and civilians, forced millions from their homes, destroyed cities and raised fears of a wider confrontation between Russia and NATO, while no peace settlement is in sight.

Ukraine's sovereignty has been under threat since Russian forces occupied Crimea in 2014 and Moscow illegally annexed the peninsula. Eight years later, Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Statehood Day marks Ukraine's self-determination.

Von der Leyen, the European Union's top official, said this was her 11th wartime visit to the Ukrainian capital. Europe has provided billions of euros in aid to Ukraine, along with diplomatic backing, amid concerns over Russia's wider intentions in Europe.

She said she would announce new steps to bring the European and Ukrainian defence industries closer and provide fresh support to help Ukraine prepare its air defences for next winter, when Russia usually tries to target the power system.

On social media, von der Leyen said: "It's a special moment. Ukraine has built a strong military momentum. The tide is turning." Her visit also came as Western officials and analysts said Ukraine's more frequent and accurate drone and missile strikes were hitting prominent targets deep inside Russia, disrupting Russian military supply lines and causing civilian fuel shortages.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently secured important new pledges of support, including from the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations and the so-called Coalition of the Willing countries. At last year's meeting in Odesa, participating countries reaffirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Serbia's Moscow-friendly President Aleksandar Vucic was among those taking part in the summit in Kyiv. Serbia depends almost entirely on Russia for its energy supplies and has refused to join Western sanctions imposed on Moscow after the invasion, though it officially supports Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Ukrainian officials said at least eight civilians were killed and 11 others were injured in Russian aerial attacks on Wednesday. In the northern Sumy region, Russian forces dropped six powerful glide bombs, mostly targeting infrastructure, killing three people and wounding seven, according to regional military administration head Oleh Hryhorov.

Officials said three people were killed and three others were wounded in a Russian attack on Odesa. In the northern Chernihiv region, Russian drone attacks killed two people and seriously injured an 18-year-old, regional military administration head Viacheslav Chaus said.

In Moscow, the Russian Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted 93 Ukrainian drones overnight over several Russian regions, as well as over Crimea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. As Ukraine observed Statehood Day, the day brought fresh pledges of European support, a regional security gathering in Kyiv and new reports of deadly attacks on both sides.

With PTI Inputs

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