WARSAW: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife arrived in Poland on Wednesday for a state visit that is meant as a gesture of thanks to the East European nation for its crucial support in Kyiv's defense against Russia's invasion.

The visit is a rare foray for Zelenskyy out of Ukraine since Russia launched the war on Feb. 24, 2022. While it follows visits to the United States, United Kingdom, France and Belgium, it stands out from the others because it was announced in advance without the secrecy of past visits.