Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has admitted that the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas is drawing attention away from Ukraine.

Zelenskyy spoke at a joint news conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after their meeting in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on Saturday.

Zelenskyy said "it's clear that the war in the Middle East, this conflict, is taking away the focus." He said it is "Russia's goal."

Zelenskyy said, "We have already been in very difficult situations when there was almost no focus on Ukraine." He added that he is "absolutely sure we will overcome this challenge."

Prior to the meeting, Zelenskyy had greeted von der Leyen at a railway station in Kyiv.

A diplomatic source in the city told NHK that Zelenskyy's unprecedented action suggests he is concerned about the declining interest in Ukraine.

The source added that Zelenskyy did not take such action even when the president of the United States, Ukraine's largest supporter, visited Kyiv.