European leaders visit Ukraine

The Czech, Polish, and Slovenian prime ministers arrived in Kyiv by train Tuesday. The delegation met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. “We know you’re fighting for your lives … but we also know you’re fighting for our lives, our freedom,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told Zelenskyy. “Probably the main goal of our visit, the main message of our mission, is to say that you’re not alone. Our countries stand by you. Europe stands by you.” The leaders said they represented the European Union, but the EU insisted the three took the trip on their own initiative.

What about peace talks? Discussions between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators ended Tuesday without any agreements, but the group planned to meet again Wednesday. Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted the virtual talks have been “very difficult and viscous” but there is room for compromise. An aide said Russia is no longer demanding that Ukraine surrender.  Zelenskyy is scheduled to give a virtual address to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, and U.S. President Joe Biden plans to deliver his own address afterward. The White House announced Tuesday that Biden will go to Brussels next week for a NATO summit.

Dig deeper: Keep up with WORLD’s latest coverage of the situation in Ukraine here.