European Council (EU) President Antonio Costa and European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Kiev on the third anniversary of the start of the Russian aggression, the Kiev Independent reports.

Last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he plans to hold a summit of Ukraine's partners in Kiev on 24 February to discuss the next joint steps in peace and security.

"The visit aims to reaffirm the EU's support for the heroic Ukrainian people and for the democratically elected President Volodymyr Zelensky," Costa wrote on the social network X.

The statement comes after US President Donald Trump branded Zelensky a "dictator without elections.

Trump's comments cast doubt on his future commitment to Ukraine, sparking discussions in European capitals about how to bolster support for Kiev if Washington pulls out. | BGNES