European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will head to Ukrainian capital Kyiv this week with vice president Josep Borrell Fontelles. The announcement was made on Twitter by Leyen’s chief spokesperson Eric Mamer. The EU leaders’ visit will come at a time Russia has been accused of committing war crimes in the town of Bucha, where at least 20 bodies in civilian clothes were found.
“The EU is ready to send joint investigation teams to document war crimes in coordination with the Ukrainian prosecutor general,” she wrote on twitter.
Leyen and Fontelles’ visit will be the first by Western officials since the leaders of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic travelled to the war-torn city last month.
The EU is also considering further sanctions against Russia targeting the coal and oil sectors.
Germany, Italy, and Austria are heavily dependent on Russian energy. They have so far staved off requests. On Monday, Austrian finance minister Magnus Brunner said targeting coal was an option but he said the decision has to be taken ‘carefully and calmly’.
The development comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Bucha where besides the bodies of over two dozen civilians, hundreds of mass graves were found.
