Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Thursday, arriving on an overnight train from Poland. Britain’s ITV News filmed him stepping off the train and greeting people on the platform.
“It’s good to be back in Ukraine,” the duke of Sussex told the broadcaster. He said he wanted “to remind people back home and around the world what Ukraine is up against and to support the people and partners doing extraordinary work every hour of every day in incredibly tough conditions.”
The visit took place while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Cyprus to secure a €90 billion EU loan. EU ambassadors approved the package after Hungary lifted its veto, and the formal signing of the disbursement was scheduled in Cyprus, which holds the European Council’s rotating presidency. The funds are arriving at a critical moment as Ukraine seeks resources to sustain its fight against Russian forces in the fourth year since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Harry is scheduled to attend the Kyiv Security Forum, where diplomats and military officials will address the country’s security challenges amid global uncertainty. A former British Army serviceman with 10 years’ service, he is set to join a panel featuring Ukrainian war veterans, reflecting his long-standing support for injured service members and his involvement with the Invictus Games.
“Ukraine is a country bravely and successfully defending Europe’s eastern flank,” Prince Harry said, adding that it matters people “don’t lose sight of the significance of that.”