• The French president called what he said were Russian atrocities in cities near Kyiv “war crimes.
• “The visit coincides with Ukraine’s efforts to obtain official candidate status for EU membership.
• Later on Thursday, Klaus Iohannis is expected to join his French, German, and Italian counterparts in Kyiv.

KYIV: Presidents Macron of France, Scholz of Germany, and Draghi of Italy visited Kyiv on Thursday for the first time since Russia’s invasion.

The leaders came from Poland on a special train, with France news agency photographs showing them descending onto a platform in the Ukrainian capital.

Read more: Macron, the French president, has called for “new talks” with Ukraine

Macron stated that they will meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and visit a battlefield where murders had occurred.

The French president called what he said were Russian atrocities in cities near Kyiv “war crimes.”

As he dismounted off the train, Macron stated, “This is a message of European solidarity to the Ukrainian people, a message of support.”

He stated that he came “to discuss both the present and the future, as the upcoming weeks will be extremely challenging.”

The visit coincides with Ukraine’s efforts to obtain official candidate status for EU membership.

The trio had boarded a special train that departed Poland early on Thursday morning.

Read more: French journalist killed in Ukraine: Macron

They boarded the train separately and met shortly after departure.

The French head of state had just returned from Moldova, one of Ukraine’s neighbours.

Later on Thursday, Klaus Iohannis is expected to join his French, German, and Italian counterparts in Kyiv.