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April 23, 2026
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Get you up to speed: Prince Harry visits Ukraine, calls on Putin to end ongoing conflict
Prince Harry made a surprise visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, where he attended the Kyiv Security Conference and appealed to Vladimir Putin to end the conflict. This marked Harry’s third visit to Ukraine since the war began, during which he discussed initiatives to support the rehabilitation of military personnel.
During a surprise visit to Ukraine, Prince Harry appealed to Vladimir Putin to “stop this war” and emphasised that “no nation benefits from the continued loss of life,” according to his speech at the Kyiv Security Conference. He described Ukraine as “bravely and successfully defending Europe’s eastern flank” and expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people, stating, “You are not alone; the world stands with you.”
Prince Harry’s visit to Ukraine included a speech at the Kyiv Security Conference, where he discussed ongoing efforts to support the rehabilitation of military personnel and the significance of Ukraine in defending European security. He expressed intentions to do “everything possible” to assist in the recovery of those affected by the war, particularly through initiatives related to the Superhumans Center.
Prince Harry makes surprise visit to Ukraine and urges Putin to ‘stop the war’ | News World
Prince Harry secretly travelled to Ukraine overnight (Picture: Reuters)
Prince Harry has made a direct appeal to Vladimir Putin to end the conflict and ‘choose a different course’ during surprise visit to Ukraine today.
The Duke of Sussex arrived in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv this morning, after flying to Poland and then taking an overnight train into the war-torn country.
Harry said that it was ‘good to be back in Ukraine,’ and that he wanted his visit ‘to remind people back home and around the world what Ukraine is up against’.
He described Ukraine as a country ‘bravely and successfully defending Europe’s eastern flank,’ adding that it ‘matters that we don’t lose sight of the significance of that’.
Harry’s unannounced visit comes just one week after Russia’s deadliest drone and missile strike on the capital this year, which killed 17 people and injured more than 100.
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It’s the third time he has visited Ukraine since the war began (Picture: Reuters)
The British Army veteran attended the Kyiv Security Conference, where he delivered a speech to the ‘brave’ people of Ukraine.
Harry declared he was ‘here as a soldier who understands service, as a humanitarian who has seen the human cost of conflict.’
The prince addressed that today marks the anniversary of the start of the war and, directly addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said: ‘President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing.
‘There is still a moment – now – to stop this war, to prevent further suffering for Ukrainians and Russians alike, and to choose a different course.’
The Duke of Sussex made a heartfelt speech at the Kyiv Security Conference (Picture: Reuters)
He also referred to the ‘American leadership’, but did not mention Donald Trump by name, saying it was a ‘moment for America to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations…not out of charity, but out of its enduring role in global security and strategic stability’.
He said: ‘The United States has a singular role in this story. Not only because of its power, but because when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, America was part of the assurance that Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders would be respected.’
The 41-year-old also described himself as a ‘friend of Ukraine who believes the world must not grow used to this war or numb to its consequences.’
He said: ‘Over the past year, I’ve had the honour and privilege of visiting Ukraine twice. Each time I left deeply moved by the courage, dignity and unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people.
‘For four years, Ukraine has stood firm. You’ve shown the world what true resilience looks like.
‘You reminded us all that freedom and independence are never guaranteed. They need protecting, defending, and when necessary, fighting for.’
Harry’s visit was unannounced (Picture: Reuters)
He told those on the front lines and supporting from the home front that their strength ‘inspires the world’, ‘unites us’ and ‘lights a path forward for us all’.
‘Please know that you are not alone,’ he said. ‘The world stands with you, and we continue to learn from your courage every single day. Stay strong, stay brave, stay hopeful. Slava Ukraine!’
This is Harry’s third visit to Ukraine since the outbreak of the war, and his second visit to Kyiv in the last year. In September, the prince spent time in the capital to support thousands of veterans injured in the war.
The duke, who was joined by the team from his Invictus Games Foundation, said he wanted to do ‘everything possible’ to help the recovery of military personnel.
The trip detailed new initiatives to support the rehabilitation of the wounded in Kyiv, with the eventual aim to support the rest of the country.
Harry also visited Kyiv in September last year (Picture: Getty Images)
During the same visit, Harry toured the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War and witnessed firsthand the destruction caused by Russian strikes, including a damaged residential building.
In April 2025, Harry also visited Lviv in western Ukraine, close to Poland’s border.
On the unannounced trip, he met with war victims at the Superhumans Center, a specialised hospital for rehabilitating civilians and armed forces.
Harry touched on the rehabilitation centre in his speech today. After referring to his previous visit, he said he ‘saw the work of the Superhumans Center — restoring not only bodies, but lives’.
‘It is proof that even in the darkest moments, humanity has an extraordinary capacity to rebuild. And that same spirit extends beyond the front lines,’ he said.
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April 23, 2026
7:00 pm
April 23, 2026
6:00 pm
Zelenskyy demands full EU membership as Hungary blocks Ukraine’s accession
EU Accession Focus
Ukraine’s EU accession is stalled due to Hungary’s veto, as the country blocks the opening of negotiation clusters since July 2024.
Ukraine’s EU accession is stalled due to Hungary’s veto, as the country blocks the opening of negotiation clusters since July 2024.
Impact on Membership
Ukraine’s full EU membership remains a priority, with ongoing obstacles due to Hungary’s veto, highlighting the urgency of resolving this deadlock for the nation’s integration aspirations.
Ukraine’s full EU membership remains a priority, with ongoing obstacles due to Hungary’s veto, highlighting the urgency of resolving this deadlock for the nation’s integration aspirations.
Zelenskyy’s Stance
“I do not support symbolic EU membership for Ukraine. We deserve full membership in different alliances and, of course, in the European Union.”
“I do not support symbolic EU membership for Ukraine. We deserve full membership in different alliances and, of course, in the European Union.”
Key developments
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised the need for full EU membership, asserting that Ukraine requires substantial integration, not mere symbolic participation within the bloc.
Negotiations around Ukraine’s EU accession have stalled due to Hungary’s continued veto, which has hindered the opening of any negotiation clusters since July 2024.
Estonia’s Prime Minister, Kristen Michal, suggested a potential “fresh start” in the EU accession talks, although many leaders caution against expediting the process without fulfilling membership criteria.
Ukraine needs full not symbolic membership in the EU, Zelenskyy says
With a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and a new round of sanctions against Russia now unblocked and finally approved, the focus at an informal summit in Cyprus is rapidly shifting to Hungary’s long-standing veto on Kyiv’s EU accession amid hopes of using political momentum in Budapest as a new government prepares to take office.
But Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted on Thursday that what Ukraine needs is full membership and not any kind of partial participation.
Speaking with the reporters on the presidential WhatsApp chat on his way to Cyprus, Zelenskyy rejected the idea of partial EU membership for Ukraine, saying “Ukraine does not need symbolic membership in the EU.”
“Ukraine is defending itself and is definitely defending Europe. And it is not defending Europe symbolically – people are really dying.”
He said Ukraine is defending “shared European values” and therefore believes the country deserves full membership in the 27-strong bloc of countries.
He admitted that there are discussions taking place on “different levels” regarding “various possible formats of Ukraine’s membership in the EU.”
“I want to thank all our partners, all leaders of the European Union: Germany, France, Poland, Romania, and all countries that truly support Ukraine’s fast-track membership in the European Union and are looking for ways to accelerate it. But here I would like to say: let’s be fair.”
“I would like to warn, first of all, our Ukrainian institutions: please do not look for symbolic EU membership for Ukraine. I do not support this. The people do not support it. What matters most is our people. We have already had enough symbolic unions – Budapest Memoranda, symbolic security guarantees, NATO, a symbolic path to NATO. We deserve full membership in different alliances and, of course, in the European Union.”
Ukraine’s EU accession has been at a standstill since July 2024, when Hungary took over the six-month presidency of the EU Council and made clear that Kyiv would not open a single negotiation cluster during the rotation.
Outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has since continued to block the opening of clusters, keeping the process in deadlock.
In a joint statement with Zelenskyy and the president of the European Commission upon arrival at the Cyprus summit, European Council President António Costa said by unblocking the €90 billion loan for Ukraine and the new round of sanctions against Russia the EU took “two very important steps in order to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
“Now it’s time to look forward and to prepare the next step, and the next step is to open the first cluster of negotiations for the Ukrainian accession to the European Union.”
“We delivered on these two steps and we will deliver in the next step,” Costa insisted.
Fresh start for Ukraine
Speaking with EU News as EU leaders were gathering in Cyprus, Estonia’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal said there is a chance for a “fresh start” in the EU accession process or Ukraine.
“So it will mean that you can start again and to be honest I cannot see any other way than Ukraine’s future is in Europe. That is definitely so. That will mean that the question is only when, not if and how,” he said.
Many EU leaders opposed what is often referred to as the “fast-tracked” process for Ukrainian membership, warning against any shortcuts.
Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden said Ukraine belongs in the EU family, but stressed that it must first meet the bloc’s membership conditions.
“There are no shortcuts,” he said, adding that the “EU must continue to function on its fundamental values.”
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said “It’s not realistic for Ukraine to join the EU short-term.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration told EU News on Wednesday that Kyiv wants to proceed by the books, but without delays.
Commenting on the possible timeline Taras Kachka said: “I hope that this year we will hear that certain chapters can be treated as closed. That also brings the possibility next year to talk about broad integration into the internal market. Maybe, who knows, that things can be really fast, and next year we will close all chapters, and then we can talk about the treaty of accession.”
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