Foreign leaders visit Ukraine’s capital to mark 3rd war anniversary

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference on the sidelines of the "Ukraine. Year 2025" forum in Kyiv on February 23, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)
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Updated 24 February 2025
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Foreign leaders visit Ukraine’s capital to mark 3rd war anniversary

  • Zelensky hails ‘three years of resistance’ on Russian invasion anniversary

KYIV: Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky hailed his country's “resistance” and “heroism” on Monday on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion as EU leaders arrived in Kyiv in a show of solidarity.

He said: “Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians,” adding: I thank everyone who defends and supports it.”

A dozen leaders from Europe and Canada arrived in Ukraine’s capital by train Monday morning to mark the anniversary.
The visitors were greeted at the station by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the president’s chief of staff Andrii Yermak. Among them were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In a post on X, von der Leyen wrote that Europe was in Kyiv “because Ukraine is in Europe.”
“In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny,” she wrote.
The guests, also including European Council President Antonio Costa as well as the prime ministers of Northern European countries and Spain, were set to attend events dedicated to the anniversary and discuss supporting Ukraine amid a recent US policy shift under President Donald Trump.


Three more UK pro-Palestinian activists end hunger strike

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Three more UK pro-Palestinian activists end hunger strike

LONDON: Three detained pro-Palestinian activists awaiting trial in the UK have ended their hunger strike after 73 days, a campaign group said.
The three began “refeeding” on Wednesday, Prisoners for Palestine said in a statement late on Wednesday.
The decision leaves just one person still on hunger strike who started six days ago, it confirmed to AFP. Four others called off their hunger strike earlier.
The detainees are due to stand trial for alleged break-ins or criminal damage on behalf of the Palestine Action campaign group before it was banned under anti-terrorism laws.
They deny the charges.
The group, aged 20-31, launched their hunger strike in November in protest at their treatment and called for their release from prison on bail as they await trial.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously said in parliament that all “rules and procedures” were being followed in their cases.
His government outlawed Palestine Action in July after activists, protesting the war in Gaza, broke into a UK air force base and caused an estimated £7 million ($9.3 million) of damage.
Some of those on hunger strike are charged in relation to that incident.
The inmates’ demands included that the government lift its Palestine Action ban and close an Israel-linked defense firm.
Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori challenged the ban last July, and High Court judges are expected to rule at a later date on whether to uphold the prohibition.