Western leaders arrive in Kyiv as Ukrainian forces set sights on Russia's Ozon
Western leaders are visiting Kyiv ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day, while President Zelenskyy has rejected calls for wartime elections. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have expanded their military campaign against Russian infrastructure by striking an Ozon logistics facility.
Why it matters
The visit underscores ongoing international support for Ukraine, while the rejection of elections highlights the political tensions of governing during an active conflict.
Western leaders are arriving in Kyiv this weekend ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day celebrations on Monday.As preparations for the event geared up, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb in the capital on Sunday, where the pair hosted a roundtable meeting on joint defence cooperation.Zelenskyy also welcomed US Senators Richard Blumenthal and James Lankford to Kyiv. The president said he briefed the pair on the continuing ballistic missile threat from Russia and the need for improved air defences.European Council President António Costa is also expected to be heading to Ukraine along with other international guests including Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden.Zelenskyy rejects call for electionPreparations for the annual celebration come as the Ukrainian leader on Sunday reportedly rejected a surprise call from his former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov for a war-time presidential election."I believe that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge…
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