New Delhi: As the Russian forces move near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, the leaders of other European countries have decided to visit Kyiv.
The leaders of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia are travelling to Ukraine on Tuesday to show support for the country as the Russian offensive enters day 21.
“The aim of the visit is to express the European Union’s unequivocal support for Ukraine and its freedom and independence,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in a tweet.
According to AP, Fiala will be accompanied by Slovak Prime Minister Janez Janša, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is Poland’s deputy prime minister for security and the leader of the conservative ruling party.
Meanwhile, the Russian aggression in the east European country has intensified as bomb explosions and shellings can be heard across Kyiv.
The Russian and Ukrainian authorities have held multiple rounds of talks to resolve the conflict, the latest being a virtual discussion, but there has been no resolution so far.
While on one hand, Russian forces are closing in in Kyiv, on the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has moved the proposal to extend Martial law in the country till April 24, the decision on which will be taken this week.
The Russian aggression in Ukraine began on February 24, since then 596 recorded civilian lives have been lost according to the United Nations. The actual toll is expected to be much higher.
The conflict has given rise to a refugee crisis in eastern Europe with more than 2.8 million people fleeing Ukraine, crossing into Poland and other neighbouring countries.