European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and several European leaders arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday to mark Ukraine's Statehood Day, reaffirming the European Union's political, economic, and military support for the country as it continues to defend itself against Russia's ongoing invasion.

The visit comes at a significant moment in Ukraine's relationship with the European Union, following the recent opening of another cluster of accession negotiations and amid expectations of new defense cooperation initiatives between Kyiv and its European partners.

"Just arrived in Kyiv for my 11th visit to Ukraine in wartime," von der Leyen wrote on social media shortly after her arrival.

"It's a special moment. Ukraine has built a strong military momentum. The tide is turning," she said, adding that the visit would include announcements on new measures aimed at integrating Ukraine's defense industry more closely with that of the European Union.

Joining von der Leyen in Kyiv were Romanian President Nicușor Dan, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The leaders are scheduled to participate in the fifth Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit, which seeks to strengthen political, economic, and security cooperation between Ukraine and countries across southeastern and eastern Europe.

The summit is expected to focus on regional security, continued support for Ukraine, reconstruction efforts, and closer cooperation in defense and infrastructure.

According to Polish broadcaster TVP World, the European Commission is preparing a new support package for Ukraine worth up to 18 billion euros ($21 billion). The package is expected to include additional financial assistance and defense-related support, with formal announcements anticipated during von der Leyen's visit.

The EU has already begun distributing funds under its 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) Ukraine Support Loan program this year, including 3.9 billion euros ($4.4 billion) earmarked for defense assistance to help strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities.

Kyiv has also intensified efforts to integrate with the European defense industrial base, including through joint weapons development projects such as the Freya air defense system under the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition. Ukrainian officials view deeper industrial cooperation with European partners as a key element of the country's long-term security strategy.

In addition to defense cooperation, von der Leyen said discussions during the visit would cover Ukraine's European Union accession process and preparations for the coming winter, particularly measures to bolster the country's energy resilience amid continued Russian attacks on critical infrastructure.

Ukraine has made recent progress in its EU membership negotiations after months of delays. Following prolonged objections from Hungary, Kyiv opened the first of six accession negotiation clusters—known as the "Fundamentals" cluster, covering democratic institutions, judicial reforms, and the rule of law—on June 15. A second cluster focused on foreign policy was opened on July 14, marking another milestone in Ukraine's path toward eventual EU membership.

The high-profile visit underscores the European Union's continued commitment to supporting Ukraine politically, financially, and militarily as the war enters another year, while also reinforcing Kyiv's long-term goal of joining the European bloc. (ILKHA)