European Parliament chief due in Kyiv amid ongoing war

By Handan Kazanci

ISTANBUL (AA) - The president of the European Parliament will visit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with a "message of hope and support" as Russia's war on the country continues.

"On my way to Kyiv," Roberta Metsola said on Twitter, sharing Ukraine's flag and the hashtag #StandWithUkriane.

Metsola also shared a photo taken in front of a train but later deleted it. According to the news outlet Politico, details of the trip will not be provided due to security reasons.

Her spokesperson Juri Laas also tweeted that in Kyiv, the EP chief "will convey a message of support and hope."

She will be the first head of an EU institution to visit Kyiv after the start of the Russian war on Ukraine, according to Politico.

Earlier in March, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa went to Kyiv and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Before their visit, Zelenskyy had said on social media: "I invite all friends of Ukraine to visit Kyiv."

"It can be dangerous here. Because our sky is not yet closed to Russian missiles and planes," he added.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which started on Feb. 24, has been met with international outrage, with the European Union, US, and the UK among others implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,232 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 1,935 injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be far higher.

More than 4 million Ukrainians have also fled to other countries, with millions more internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.