(CNN)On Thursday morning, the sound of air raid sirens shattered the relative tranquility of Kyiv, reminding French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that they were visiting a country under siege.
They didn't really need one.
They proceeded to Kiev on a special train that left Poland in the middle of the night and was escorted by dozens of heavily armed soldiers, as had other leaders before them.
The three were in Kyiv on a mission to ease tensions over what the Ukrainian government sees as a lack of meaningful support from their own countries.In recent weeks, Macron and Scholz have faced a barrage of criticism, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky even alleging that the two were attempting to please Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Macron seems to be adamant about changing the narrative.Macron was eager to deliver a message of solidarity when he arrived in Kyiv for his first visit since the conflict began nearly four months ago — and long after a number of other foreign leaders had done so.
When asked if he had a message for the Ukrainian people by reporters at the train station, the French President said: "A message of European unity to Ukrainian men and women, encouraging them to talk about the present as well as the future, because the coming weeks will, as we all know, be extremely difficult. I want to stand at their side and support them."After departing from Poland on June 16, 2022, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz head to Kyiv.
But, prior of the visit, Ukrainian authorities made it plain that they need more than words to think France and Germany are genuine about their support.
On the train platform, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk greeted Macron, "Thank you for coming here; we have been waiting for you for years, for years."
Vereshchuk admitted that anticipation for the visit was low, but that the meeting was a significant signal.
"I'm not sure there will be any big pronouncements after the summit," she said in English, "but regardless of how it ends, it will be a historic gathering that will either lead the path to a stronger Europe or a stronger Ukraine.""The fact that three European leaders have arrived in Ukraine in the midst of a total battle is a fantastic signal that strengthens Ukraine and Europe," she continued.
The German government has committed to supply more weapons to Ukraine, but it has been chastised for its slowness in doing so. Three German rocket launchers should be supplied to Ukraine by the end of July or the beginning of August, according to German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht.
Scholz offered to deliver additional weaponry in the future at a news conference in Kyiv on Thursday, saying he would do so "for as long as Ukraine needs our support."
Zelensky warned earlier this week that Russia will continue to advance inland. He begged once more with Western countries to deliver additional heavy equipment, which he said "must come sooner" if Ukraine's allies are to thwart Russia's territorial ambitions.In Kyiv, the five leaders convened for negotiations.
"We've demonstrated our strength [to Russia]. It is equally critical that our Western allies exhibit this power with us "he stated
German officials have already stated that the delivery delays are due in part to the necessity to teach Ukrainian forces on how to utilize the heavy armament, and Scholz reiterated this point on Thursday.
"The Ukrainian military is presently receiving training in cutting-edge weapons such as the self-propelled Howitzer 2000 and the Gepard anti-aircraft tank. I've also committed to provide the modern Iris-T air defense system, which can guard an entire city from air attacks, as well as the special radar "According to the German leader.
Macron, Draghi, and Scholz, accompanied by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, spent the morning in Irpin, the site of some of the most intense fighting during Russia's unsuccessful attempt to take the capital earlier this year. Since Ukraine retook the territory, there has been a lot of evidence of Russian troops shooting Ukrainian citizens indiscriminately in Irpin and the surrounding districts.Macron stated that his visit to Irpin reminded him of the Ukrainian people's heroism. "You have to visualize the heroism of the army, as well as the Ukrainian population, in stopping the Russian army from coming on Kyiv."
Later on Thursday, the four European leaders met with Zelensky.
Following the meeting, all of the European Union leaders spoke out in favor of Ukraine's membership bid.
In the next days, the EU is due to make a decision on whether or not to officially advocate Ukraine for membership, and the four have all indicated support for the concept of giving Ukraine official candidacy status.
"Every day, the Ukrainian people defend the democratic and libertarian ideals that underpin the European project, as well as our own. This is a process that cannot be slowed "According to Draghi,
Macron stated that the status would be accompanied by a "roadmap," while Scholz stated that Ukraine "belongs to the European family," adding that all ascension aspirants must meet democratic and constitutional law conditions.
"Europe is by your side, and it will remain so for as long as it takes to win, a victory that will bring peace to a free and independent Ukraine," Macron added.
In front of the huge Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, the group shook hands and smiled for the cameras, but given Zelensky's previous remarks about Scholz and Macron's lack of support for Ukraine, the atmosphere within the meeting was likely more strained.
"[Scholz] and his government must decide which is their priority, not to conduct a balancing act between Ukraine and the Russian Federation," Zelensky told German network ZDF earlier this week.
Macron drew his wrath as well. The French President has attempted to portray himself as a friend of Ukraine as well as a trustworthy mediator with Russia.
Earlier this month, Macron stated in an interview that "We must not humiliate Russia in order to establish a diplomatic exit ramp when the combat ceases. I believe that France's position should be that of a mediating power."
"In order to be a leader, you do not need to consider yourself one," Zelensky told the Financial Times, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron.
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