On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky embarked on a trip to Poland as Kyiv seeks military and financial backing from its Western allies to counter Russian forces occupying large portions of its territory.

Zelensky’s visit to the Polish capital, Warsaw, marks his first foreign trip announced in advance by Kyiv, following recent secret visits to the United States and several European capitals due to security concerns, the Wall Street Journal reported.

During the visit, Polish President Andrzej Duda awarded Zelensky with the Order of the White Eagle, the country’s highest civilian honor, while the Ukrainian leader, clad in his customary military attire, urged Polish businesses to invest in rebuilding Ukraine’s devastated infrastructure.

The visit coincides with a flurry of diplomatic efforts aimed at hastening a potential resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which is straining Western support and putting pressure on Zelensky to pursue a quick military solution or engage in negotiations with Russia.

Written by staff