Leaders of France, Germany and Italy Visit Ukraine
2022-06-17
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1The leaders of four European Union nations visited Ukraine on Thursday, promising to support the country's effort to join the 27-member group.
2French President Emmanuel Macron also promised Ukraine six more powerful artillery guns.
3The offering was the latest of Western promises of weapons to Ukraine.
4The country's war with Russia continues slowly in the eastern Donbas area.
5The leaders "are doing everything so that Ukraine alone can decide its fate," Macron said at a news conference.
6The visit by Macron and the leaders of Germany, Italy and Romania showed additional support for Ukraine.
7Ukrainian leaders have expressed concern that Western nations are tiring of the war.
8The French, German and Italian leaders have faced criticism for continuing to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
9Critics also say the leaders have not provided Ukraine with enough weaponry to defend itself against Russia.
10After arriving in Kyiv to the sound of air raid warnings, the group headed to the nearby town of Irpin.
11Many civilians were killed there during intense fighting early in the war.
12The European leaders denounced the destruction they found.
13Officials in Ukraine have expressed fears that "war fatigue" could slow or even end international support for Ukraine.
14Inflation and upcoming elections in the United States might capture more attention.
15The U.S. and its European allies have given billions of dollars in weaponry and aid to Ukraine.
16Germany and the U.S. recently announced new arms shipments.
17Such weapons have been central to Ukraine's successful defense of its capital.
18But officials in Kyiv have said much more will be needed.
19While hopes were high for the visit, some are expressing concerns.
20Governor Serhiy Haidai of Luhansk said the visit would not bring progress if the leaders ask Ukraine to sign a peace treaty with Russia that involves giving up territory.
21Haidai governs an area in the Donbas area that is occupied by Russian forces.
22"I am sure that our president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is not going to make concessions and trade our territories," he said.
23"Today it will be one territory, tomorrow another one, the day after tomorrow another," he said.
24While visiting Irpin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that officials must remember the destruction around them as they make decisions.
25"Innocent civilians have been hit, houses have been destroyed; a whole town has been destroyed in which there was no military infrastructure at all," Scholz said.
26He added that what the leaders had seen showed much about Russian aggression.
27Italian Premier Mario Draghi also spoke in Irpin, promising European help for the damaged city.
28"They destroyed the nurseries, the playgrounds, and everything will be rebuilt," Draghi said.
29Macron, Scholz and Draghi, represent the three largest economies in the European Union.
30They traveled to Kyiv together on a special train provided by the Ukrainian officials.
31But, they have been criticized for not visiting Kyiv sooner.
32President Klaus Iohannis of Romania arrived on a separate train.
33His country borders Ukraine and has been important for Ukrainian refugees.
34After seeing Irpin, Iohannis wrote on Twitter that there are "no words to describe the unimaginable human tragedy and horrible destruction."
35He called for the international criminal justice system to hold Russia responsible.
36In Ukraine, Macron answered criticism of France's position, including his recent comment that Russia should not be "humiliated."
37The statement deeply angered Ukrainians.
38His office also released information showing that Macron had spoken with Zelenskyy 23 times since the war began.
39That is more than Macron has spoken with Putin.
40Tamara Malko lives in the Donetsk area that is part of the Donbas.
41She said Macron and Scholz had been "very cold" toward Ukrainians so far, and hoped for a change.
42"We want peace very much...and have high hopes for Macron and Scholz," she said.
43"We want them to see and understand our pain."
44I'm Mario Ritter Jr.
1The leaders of four European Union nations visited Ukraine on Thursday, promising to support the country's effort to join the 27-member group. 2French President Emmanuel Macron also promised Ukraine six more powerful artillery guns. The offering was the latest of Western promises of weapons to Ukraine. The country's war with Russia continues slowly in the eastern Donbas area. 3The leaders "are doing everything so that Ukraine alone can decide its fate," Macron said at a news conference. 4The visit by Macron and the leaders of Germany, Italy and Romania showed additional support for Ukraine. Ukrainian leaders have expressed concern that Western nations are tiring of the war. 5The French, German and Italian leaders have faced criticism for continuing to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Critics also say the leaders have not provided Ukraine with enough weaponry to defend itself against Russia. 6After arriving in Kyiv to the sound of air raid warnings, the group headed to the nearby town of Irpin. Many civilians were killed there during intense fighting early in the war. The European leaders denounced the destruction they found. 7Officials in Ukraine have expressed fears that "war fatigue" could slow or even end international support for Ukraine. Inflation and upcoming elections in the United States might capture more attention. 8The U.S. and its European allies have given billions of dollars in weaponry and aid to Ukraine. Germany and the U.S. recently announced new arms shipments. Such weapons have been central to Ukraine's successful defense of its capital. But officials in Kyiv have said much more will be needed. 9While hopes were high for the visit, some are expressing concerns. 10Governor Serhiy Haidai of Luhansk said the visit would not bring progress if the leaders ask Ukraine to sign a peace treaty with Russia that involves giving up territory. Haidai governs an area in the Donbas area that is occupied by Russian forces. 11"I am sure that our president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is not going to make concessions and trade our territories," he said. 12"Today it will be one territory, tomorrow another one, the day after tomorrow another," he said. 13While visiting Irpin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that officials must remember the destruction around them as they make decisions. 14"Innocent civilians have been hit, houses have been destroyed; a whole town has been destroyed in which there was no military infrastructure at all," Scholz said. He added that what the leaders had seen showed much about Russian aggression. 15Italian Premier Mario Draghi also spoke in Irpin, promising European help for the damaged city. 16"They destroyed the nurseries, the playgrounds, and everything will be rebuilt," Draghi said. 17Macron, Scholz and Draghi, represent the three largest economies in the European Union. They traveled to Kyiv together on a special train provided by the Ukrainian officials. But, they have been criticized for not visiting Kyiv sooner. 18President Klaus Iohannis of Romania arrived on a separate train. His country borders Ukraine and has been important for Ukrainian refugees. 19After seeing Irpin, Iohannis wrote on Twitter that there are "no words to describe the unimaginable human tragedy and horrible destruction." He called for the international criminal justice system to hold Russia responsible. 20In Ukraine, Macron answered criticism of France's position, including his recent comment that Russia should not be "humiliated." The statement deeply angered Ukrainians. 21His office also released information showing that Macron had spoken with Zelenskyy 23 times since the war began. That is more than Macron has spoken with Putin. 22Tamara Malko lives in the Donetsk area that is part of the Donbas. She said Macron and Scholz had been "very cold" toward Ukrainians so far, and hoped for a change. 23"We want peace very much...and have high hopes for Macron and Scholz," she said. "We want them to see and understand our pain." 24I'm Mario Ritter Jr. 25John Leicester and Sylvie Corbet reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. 26_____________________________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28fate -n. the things that happen to in the future over which people have no control 29infrastructure -n. the system of public works of a country, state, or region 30fatigue -n. a state of being very tired 31concession -n. something that is given up in an effort to reach an agreement or stop a conflict 32humiliate -v. to cause (someone) to feel very ashamed or foolish 33We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.