The visit by PiS President Jarosław Kaczyński and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to war-torn Kiev in March of last year left a lasting impression in Ukraine and signaled to observers worldwide that political leadership would still travel to the front lines to discuss war and peace in Europe, according to Bartosz Cichocki, the Polish ambassador in Kiev, in a report for PAP.
Cichocki: It was unheard of for me
The ambassador reflected that the trip had already taken on the aura of a new practice: leaders crossing into Kiev to speak credibly about Europe6s security and the balance between war and peace. He noted that a year on, posters across Kyiv bear images of Polish leaders and the inscription We Remember, honoring Kaczyński and Morawiecki, who had traveled to Ukraine with the prime ministers of the Czech Republic and Slovenia. Their faces appear on surrounding billboards as well.
He described the visit as extraordinary, with the participants rightly honored for their courage. Kyiv days were dangerous; Russian forces continued pressing in the region even as the delegation arrived, and the city had just endured shelling that day. The ambassador recalled a curfew being in effect on the day of the visit and emphasized that the embassy and its staff moved only in body armor and helmets during that period.
He added that it had felt unbelievable that several heads of government and the then Deputy Prime Minister could set foot in Kiev under such conditions. The moment underscored a wider message about international resolve and solidarity.
“At some point, everyone switched to Polish.”
The ambassador recounted how empty Kyiv streets were on the day of the visit, with residents seeking shelter or fleeing as fear of bombardment grew. Kaczyński, Morawiecki, and the Czech and Slovenian leaders arrived by train after a twelve-hour journey and spent the next five hours in intensive talks with Ukrainian partners, including President Volodymyr Zelensky.
President Zelensky participated extensively in the discussions, covering topics from the potential supply of MiG aircraft to the NATO mission in Ukraine and gauging the willingness of the international community to support Kyiv. According to Cichocki, there was a moment when working translations gradually gave way to a direct Polish conversation, as the Polish delegation and their Ukrainian counterparts found it easier to communicate in a shared language.
The diplomat stressed that the visit left a strong impression on Ukrainian society. Plaques honoring the leaders are now placed on the Alley of Courage in front of Kyiv6s parliament, and larger commemorations were evident on the billboards that day in Kyiv. The ambassador noted that Ukrainians remember and value this visit, and the signs displayed show broad public recognition.
Billboards “We Remember March 15, 2022”
Public displays honoring the first foreign leaders to visit Ukraine after Russia6s larger invasion appeared along Kyiv6s central avenues. In Taras Shevchenko Boulevard and other spots, billboards carry the message We Remember March 15, 2022, inviting reflection on the first foreign leaders to visit Kiev after Russia6s assault. The same imagery featured Jarosław Kaczyński and Mateusz Morawiecki, with their portraits inviting onlookers to recall that moment.
On March 15, 2022, Morawiecki and Kaczyński, then Poland6s Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively, traveled to Kiev with the Czech and Slovenian leaders, meeting with President Zelensky and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The Kyiv visit drew comparisons at the time to a 2008 trip to Tbilisi during the Russo-Georgian war, an event cited in discussions about diplomacy and courage under fire. The reference connected leaders across regions through a shared moment of defense and solidarity.
“The leaders of their great independent countries are not afraid
Commenting on the wider significance, Radosław Fogiel, head of the Sejm Foreign Affairs Committee, described the visit as a breakthrough for Ukraine and for Europe. He stressed that without the Polish, Czech, and Slovenian leaders stepping forward after the Russian aggression, others would likely have hesitated to engage so openly. On the anniversary of that visit, Fogiel highlighted the political and personal courage demonstrated by the participants and the decision by European allies to stand with Ukraine in a moment of acute vulnerability.
During the March 15, 2022 meeting in Kiev, Morawiecki, Morawiecki, and the Czech and Slovenian leaders engaged with Zelensky and Shmyhal, offering political support at a time when Ukrainian resilience was under enormous pressure. Zelensky publicly expressed gratitude for European backing, underscoring the willingness of partner nations to stand with Kyiv in its difficult hours.
That stance—the solidarity of friends—was described as a firm commitment to Ukraine6s sovereignty and future. Zelensky later affirmed that with friends who stand by Ukraine, success against the Russian aggression could be achieved. The sense of momentum was palpable in Kyiv as a new era of international involvement began to unfold.
Fogiel: It’s a matter of both political and personal courage
Fogiel noted that this was the first instance of heads of state and foreign leaders visiting Ukraine after the conflict began. He described the support as critical, demonstrating that Ukraine could govern, defend itself, and remain a functioning state under pressure. He also highlighted the personal bravery of the participants and noted that the proposal for the trip circulated at the European Council and ultimately drew a small, deliberate group of four leaders.
In reflecting on the broader impact, Fogiel recalled remarks from Oleksandr Merezhko, the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Committee chair, who wrote that the visit was extremely important and historic because it came from true friends who came to support Ukraine in its darkest days. The sentiment underscored the depth of gratitude from Kyiv and reinforced the sense that the visit mattered beyond official diplomacy.
Fogiel added that without this visit, other prominent figures from Britain and the European Union might not have appeared in Kyiv so quickly. He emphasized that the moment marked a genuine breakthrough for Ukraine6s international engagement and support.
“That was a breakthrough at the time.”
As the discussion extended across the political spectrum in Poland, some voices in the media urged caution or questioned the immediacy of the visit. Fogiel responded by underscoring the Ukrainians6 appreciation for the actions of their Polish, Czech, and Slovenian partners and inviting critics to listen to the Ukrainians themselves when weighing the impact of that trip. The historical significance of that moment, he argued, is not easily dismissed and remains a reminder of the power of timely, principled diplomacy.
In summary, the Kyiv visit by the four European leaders represented a moment when political will and personal courage intersected to support a nation under siege. The events of that day continue to be recalled in Kyiv and in Polish political circles as evidence that steadfast international friendship can shape outcomes in the face of aggression. This remembrance remains a reference point for ongoing discussions about European security and alliance commitments. [Attribution: wPolityce]