Robert Muller and Jan Lopatka by James Mackenzie

PRAGUE/KYIV – Some members of the immediate family were shocked to hear that leaders from Slovenia, Czech Republic, and Poland had boarded a train for Kyiv to meet with President of Ukraine.

A few hundred people were unaware that a trip was made to the city of siege where Ukraine’s army is facing invading Russian forces.

The leaders, a participant, and a diplomat source speaking privately pointed to a risky and difficult diplomatic mission. This underscored the urgency of European nations to stop the war.

Only a few countries participated directly in the proposal journey, even though European leaders received information about it at a Versailles summit last Friday.

All three of those who took part were deeply concerned about Moscow’s views on nations it once controlled before 1991’s collapse. This concern was heightened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began Feb. 24, 2014.

Over 3 million Ukrainians have fled Ukraine over the past few weeks. Nearly 2 million of these people are now in Poland.

After returning from Ukraine, Petr Fiala the Czech Prime Minister stated that the risk was not worth it.

According to the 57 year-old, there are times when you need to make your own decisions.

“I wasn’t alone. I had co-workers – I had the prime ministers and colleagues from my security service. They were all willing to go with me on the trip.”

He spoke to his wife of his plans but requested that she not inform his mother or his three children.

“They discovered about it when it became public.”

He was accompanied by the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Janez Jansa, his Slovenian counterpart, as well as Jaroslaw Kaczynski (powerful leader of Poland’s ruling party).

On Tuesday morning, they traveled by special train to the Ukrainian border from Poland. The trip was made public by Tuesday morning and they had already reached the capital.

On Wednesday, Fiala was photographed in a flak jacket, helmet and stood between two beds within a small, basic sleeping area.

The extent to which Russia was aware of the visit is not known.

Fiala shared on his Facebook page (NASDAQ:) that it was made public by international organizations like the United Nations.

Pawel Jablonski, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that the participants didn’t discuss it with Moscow beforehand.

He stated that Russia was no longer an acceptable partner and said, “We wish to have someone credible to talk things with in Russia.”

The Kremlin declined to immediately comment when asked if it was made aware Tuesday of the mission and had agreed that safe passage would be provided.

LONG WAIT, NOT LOW LIGHTS

The plan was first discussed by Charles Michel, president of European Council, at Versailles’ sideline summit, according to an EU diplomatic source.

Morawiecki informed Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, Presidents of the European Commission, that they planned to travel Monday. No European mandate was issued.

The identity of the other person who was asked to be a part of them is unclear. According to the diplomat, French President Emmanuel Macron wasn’t asked and neither was German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Eduard Heger, the Slovakian Prime Minister, sought advice from his security service about it. A government spokesperson said that he was strongly advised to not go.

As Russia intensified its assault on Ukraine’s capital, the air strike and bombardment of Kyiv killed at least five civilians as they crossed the border into Ukraine with their entourage of security and advisers.

Vitali Klitschko declared a curfew of 35 hours starting Tuesday night, stating that it was a dangerous moment in the capital.

In the conflict, thousands have died. Russia claims that its actions are a “special operation” meant to “demilitarize” and “denazify Ukraine. Kyiv denies this accusation as an insinuation of aggression.

A participant on the mission declined to identify himself due to the sensitive nature of their visit. He said that the train ride took approximately 10 hours and that by the time they got to Kyiv, darkness was already falling.

They were taken by vans along empty streets to the Presidential Palace, where they waited around for President Volodymyr Zeleskiy. During that time they weren’t allowed to use their smartphones.

They addressed small groups of journalists after the meeting, lasting about 2.5 hours. Then they left for Europe. One participant stated that they got three hours sleep throughout the trip.

Witness to Reuters says that sandbags at the palace were piled up at several points. Heavy-armed Ukrainian security personnel escorted a delegation along darkened corridors with flashlights in order to keep the building from becoming a target.

In casual attire, they addressed the press and expressed their support for Ukraine’s bid to join Europe. They also thanked the nation for its resilience.

“The primary message of our mission was to show that you’re not alone. Fiala stated that Europe is there for your country.

DAMNED…IF YOU DO…

The mission enjoyed admiration from many people, but some EU sources stated that some members were worried about a significant incident involving the delegation which could have brought them into closer confrontation with Russia.

Both the Polish state media that supports Kaczynski and his PiS party as well as Morawiecki themselves have seen parallels in the Kyiv mission to Lech, Kaczynskis twin brother, who made the trip from Poland to Georgia in 2008. This was during tensions against Russia.

Lech Kaczynski was then the president of Poland. He came under attack near an independent Georgian province that Moscow supported and lashed out at what he called Russian “imperialism.”

“There is always another step. According to an aide of the President, “If you allow imperialists then there will always be more countries in line.”

Lech Kaczynski lost his life in 2010 when his plane collided in thick fog above western Russia.

Radek Sikorski (a European Parliamentarian representing the main Polish opposition party Civic Platform) criticized Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s participation in Ukraine’s mission. He said on Twitter (NYSE 🙂 that it looked like a PR stunt.

Jaroslav Nad (Slovakia’s premier) took to Facebook to defend the decision of Heger to not join the trip after backlash from media.

He stated, “I stand behind… Heger. I have repeatedly said that this decision was right.”

However, it is not clear whether this mission will make a difference in the ongoing war. Kaczynski had proposed sending an International Peacekeeping Mission to Ukraine. But, it does not appear that the idea has gained any traction at all in talks between Moscow and Kyiv.

Zelenskiy was aware of the significance of this trip and pledged to resist the Russians. He also urged the West not to place a no fly zone above Ukraine.

He noted that many foreign ambassadors left Kyiv and said that the visiting leaders weren’t afraid to do anything.