EU diplomats visit Ukraine to commemorate the Bucha massacre anniversary

EU foreign ministers, led by Kaja Kallas, gather in Kyiv to mark the Bucha massacre anniversary and reaffirm support for Ukraine. The visit underscores calls for accountability as divisions over EU aid persist.

Reuters

March 31, 2026

EU diplomats visit Ukraine to commemorate the Bucha massacre anniversary

People are silhouetted as they visit the memorial installation for the victims of attacks and executions by Russian troops, marking the fourth anniversary of the liberation of the town of Bucha, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Bucha, outside Kyiv, Ukraine, March 30, 2026.

Gleb Garanich/Reuters

The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre and to voice their support for Ukraine, amid tensions within the bloc over blocked EU aid.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha greeted Kallas and other senior EU officials at Kyiv's central railway station early on Tuesday, saying that such a strong European presence demonstrated that justice for Russian atrocities was inevitable.

"Today, we commemorate the grim anniversary of the Bucha massacre," Sybiha said on the Telegram messaging app. "Comprehensive accountability for Russian crimes is vital to restore justice in Europe. And today, we will advance accountability efforts."

Ukraine marks the fourth anniversary this week of the liberation of Bucha, around 25 km from the Ukrainian capital, which brought to light the atrocities carried out in the town, where Russian troops killed more than 400 people. Moscow denied its troops committed the atrocities and accused Ukraine of staging the incident.

-Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Daniel Flynn/Reuters