Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived in Kyiv on Saturday to signal EU support for Ukraine as the country's commander-in-chief said he was frustrated by the slow deliveries of Western weapons, reports BSS.
Sixteen months into Russia's invasion, Kyiv says it is fighting "fierce" battles as part of its counteroffensive launched last month after weeks of anticipation.
Sanchez, whose country kicked off its presidency of the European Union, was expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later Saturday.
His visit also comes ahead of a key NATO summit in Vilnius later this month that is expected to map out the future relationship between Ukraine and the Western military bloc.
"In Kyiv already, I wanted the first act of the Spanish presidency of the council of the European Union to be in Ukraine" with its president, Sanchez wrote on his official Twitter account, saying he would convey "all of Europe's solidarity".
"We will keep supporting the Ukrainian people until peace returns to Europe," added Sanchez, who announced the visit during an EU summit on Thursday, saying the aim was to demonstrate the EU's "unfaltering support" for Kyiv.
Ukraine received EU candidacy status a year ago and is hoping to begin formal negotiations this year on what it needs to do to firm up its membership bid.
Kyiv also said this week that the time had come for NATO to clarify its stance on Ukraine's membership.
Ukrainian forces have claimed limited gains in a highly touted counter-offensive to win back territory that Russia captured after launching its full-scale offensive in February last year.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
