Important guest expected in Kyiv: Foreign Ministry announces surprise
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that a visit from one of Ukraine's "main" Western partners is expected in Kyiv. On 20 February, a number of streets in the capital were blocked, including near the railway station and the US Embassy, but the Foreign Ministry has not yet said who is expected.
Source: Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast
Quote from Melnyk: "Let's keep this intrigue alive for now and not get ahead of ourselves. I hope that the surprise that is being prepared will take place. After all, it is important for us that on the eve of the first anniversary of the aggression, the large-scale aggression, we will feel and see not only verbal support, not only solidarity, but also even more help and the presence of our important, main partners in Kyiv."
Details: Melnyk refused to say who exactly is expected in the capital, asking "to wait, because it won't be long now".
Earlier, it was reported that US President Joe Biden would visit neighbouring Poland on 20-22 February.
There were also rumours that Joe Biden might meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Poland during this trip.
In late January, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, said that the US president had not abandoned the idea of visiting Ukraine but that there were no plans to do so. At the same time, the media reported that Biden was considering a visit to Europe to support Ukraine on the anniversary of the invasion.
It was also reported that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni would arrive in Ukraine on 21 February. During the visit, she is scheduled to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On 20 January, Ukraine marks the Day of Remembrance of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes, the sad anniversary of the shootings of peaceful protesters by the regime of fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych in the winter of 2014. From February 18 to February 21 2014, security forces and unarmed protesters clashed violently. However, on 20 February, the largest number of Maidan activists died: 47 people.
Background:
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, did not go to the announced meeting with European foreign ministers in Brussels, which was to take place before the EU Council meeting. The news of Kuleba's change of plans coincided with a large-scale traffic restriction in Kyiv, sparking rumours of a top Western official visiting the city.
Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
