WESTERN leaders descended on Kiev at the weekend to pledge continued support on the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

The prime ministers of Italy, Belgium and Canada and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen laid flowers at a display showing images of Ukrainian war dead. Italy’s Giorgia Meloni later chaired a G7 video conference from the city, which issued a joint statement agreeing tighter sanctions on Russia and assistance for Ukraine for “as long as it takes.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared: “We will win this war together,” in a speech referring to Kiev’s resistance to the Russian assault of two years ago, when the city was surrounded by Russian troops but held out until they retreated.