European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is holding a news conference in Kyiv with Ukraine's President Zelensky
Von der Leyen says Kyiv is the "beating heart" of European values, while
Zelensky says success in defeating Russian attacks proves "we can win
over this aggressor"
As Russia celebrates
what it calls its Victory Day today, multiple countries to its west are marking
Europe Day, which celebrates peace and unity on the continent.
EU chief Ursula
von der Leyen is in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, to mark the occasion, and will
meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky to "reaffirm the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine" on Europe Day.
Celebrated since
the 1960s, Europe Day commemorates the signing of the Schuman Declaration,
which was signed on 9 May 1950 as Europe sought to recover from the devastation
of World War Two.
Zelensky
has signed a decree - which is still subject to parliamentary approval -
that would see the day officially recognised in Ukraine.
