"Iron diplomacy" () refers to the practice of transporting world leaders from Poland through Ukraine via rail since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The expression was coined by Oleksandr Kamyshin, the head of Ukrainian Railways, because many diplomats were being shuttled by train to and from Kyiv, the capital city, as the use of Ukrainian airspace was impractical due to the invasion. In addition, the first foreign leaders to visit Kyiv had decided to avoid travelling from Poland to Ukraine via a Polish military jet, in case Russia interpreted it as an escalating move. The journeys, including US President Joe Biden's 2023 visit, begin in Poland with a flight to Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport and then transfer to Przemyśl Główny railway station, where the visiting leaders board an overnight train to Kyiv.
Rail system
Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine's airspace has been closed and its roads have become unreliable due to fighting. As a result, the country has been forced to rely heavily on its rail system for transport, including for humanitarian aid, refugees, weapons, and food for export. As the rail system is crucial in Ukraine's resistance to the invasion, Ukrainian Railways has continued to run despite repeated attacks against the system, such as the attack on Kramatorsk station. Security has also increased, and Aleksandr Kamyshin, who runs Ukrainian Railways, is now armed and accompanied by two bodyguards, keeps his schedule and location secret, and avoids physical contact with his family.
Diplomats and other world leaders who wish to travel through Ukraine are faced with a similar lack of options, so they regularly take part in Kamyshin's iron diplomacy program. The train ride takes nearly 10 hours. Ukraine also provides a security detail for the visiting leaders, and Kamyshin also keeps their travel details secret, but sometimes information ends up being publicized before the delegation has left Ukraine, which increases the risk of an attack. In anticipation of possible attack, two alternate routes are always prepared.
As of December 2024, more than 1000 trips were provided to foreign dignitaries.
Carriages One of the carriages used in the iron diplomacy program was originally constructed for rich tourists to the Crimean peninsula. Completed in 2014, it was used only a few times before Russia annexed the peninsula early that year. Recently modernized carriages from the Soviet era have also been used for the iron diplomacy program. Although most cars have been retrofitted with upscale furnishings to allow visiting leaders to travel comfortably, not all carriages have been refurbished to the same standard. Discrepancies regarding train car accommodations were noted by the French president Emmanuel Macron, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz, and the Italian prime minister Mario Draghi during their joint trip to Kyiv in June 2022. Some carriages are fitted with conference room and private bedroom with an ensuite bathroom. Due to the limited number of furnished carriages, not all foreign dignitaries travel in these carriages.
Notable visits
Date Travellers Representing To Notes Rf. 2022-03-15 Mateusz Morawiecki, prime ministerPetr Fiala, prime ministerJanez Janša, prime ministerJarosław Kaczyński, deputy prime minister Kyiv 2022-04-01 Roberta Metsola, parliament president Kyiv 2022-04-08 Josep Borrell, foreign affairs representativeEduard Heger, prime minister Kyiv 2022-04-09 Boris Johnson, prime minister Kyiv 2022-04-09 Karl Nehammer, chancellor Kyiv 2022-04-13 Alar Karis, presidentEgils Levits, presidentGitanas Nausėda, presidentAndrzej Duda, president Kyiv 2022-04-24 Antony Blinken, secretary of stateLloyd Austin, secretary of defense Kyiv 2022-04-28 António Guterres, secretary-general Kyiv 2022-04-30 Nancy Pelosi, speaker Kyiv 2022-05-08 Justin Trudeau, prime ministerChrystia Freeland, deputy prime ministerMélanie Joly, foreign affairs minister Kyiv 2022-05-22 Andrzej Duda, president Kyiv 2022-05-26 Sanna Marin, prime minister Kyiv 2022-06-16 Emmanuel Macron, presidentOlaf Scholz, chancellorMario Draghi, prime minister Kyiv 2022-06-16 Klaus Iohannis, president Kyiv 2022-06-17 Boris Johnson, prime minister Kyiv 2022-06-29 Joko Widodo, president Kyiv 2022-07-03 Anthony Albanese, prime minister Kyiv 2022-07-25 Alejandro Giammattei, president Kyiv 2022-10-20 Ignazio Cassis, president Kyiv 2022-10-25 Frank-Walter Steinmeier, president Kyiv 2022-11-19Rishi Sunak, prime ministerKyiv Announced new anti-air military aid2022-11-26Alexander De Croo, prime ministerKatalin Novák, presidentIngrida Šimonytė, prime ministerMateusz Morawiecki, prime ministerKyiv The four leaders together with president Zelenskyy launched the "Grain from Ukraine" initiative, which aims to export Ukrainian grain to countries vulnerable to famine and drought2022-11-28Urmas Reinsalu, foreign ministerPekka Haavisto, foreign ministerÞórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir, foreign ministerEdgars Rinkēvičs, foreign ministerGabrielius Landsbergis, foreign ministerAnniken Huitfeldt, foreign ministerTobias Billström, foreign ministerKyiv The delegation of seven foreign ministers visited damaged energy infrastructure due to the October–November 2022 nationwide missile strikes on Ukraine2023-01-30Mette Frederiksen, prime ministerMykolaiv, Odesa Frederiksen was received by Zelenskyy, and the two leaders visited a hospital treating wounded soldiers and the Port of Mykolaiv2023-02-20Joe Biden, presidentKyiv Biden was received by president Zelenskyy and first lady Olena Zelenska at Mariinskyi Palace. The two presidents visited the Wall of Remembrance at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, where they laid wreaths and held a moment of silence. Biden also visited the Embassy of the United States, Kyiv, and announced additional US assistance to Ukraine.2023-02-21Giorgia Meloni, prime ministerKyiv Meloni met with president Zelenskyy, and visited Bucha and Irpin.2023-02-23Pedro Sánchez, prime ministerKyiv Sánchez met with president Zelenskyy, and visited Bucha and Irpin.2023-04-28Petr Pavel, presidentZuzana Čaputová, presidentKyiv, Dnipro The two presidents visited Borodianka and met with president Zelenskyy Pavel also visited Bucha and Dnipro2023-06-10Justin Trudeau, prime ministerKyiv Trudeau and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland met president Zelenskyy Trudeau laid a wreath at a memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, addressed the Ukrainian parliament, and announced C$500 million in new military aid for Ukraine2025-02-24Justin Trudeau, prime ministerMette Frederiksen, prime ministerKristen Michal, prime ministerUrsula von der Leyen, commission presidentAntónio Costa, council presidentAlexander Stubb, presidentBenjamin Haddad, minister delegateKristrún Frostadóttir, prime ministerEdgars Rinkēvičs, presidentGitanas Nausėda, presidentJonas Gahr Støre, prime ministerFeridun Sinirlioğlu, secretary generalPedro Sánchez, prime ministerUlf Kristersson, prime ministerKyiv Trudeau opened a summit for peace and security on Ukraine and pledged military and monetary aid Several leaders like von der Leyen and Sánchez also unveiled aid packages2024-08-23Narendra Modi, prime ministerKyiv Modi and minister of external affairs S. Jaishankar met president Zelenskyy Modi also visited the National Museum of the History of Ukraine and donated humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian government on behalf of India.2025-05-10Emmanuel Macron, presidentFriedrich Merz, chancellorDonald Tusk, prime ministerKeir Starmer, prime ministerKyiv
See also Compiègne Wagon
Explanatory notes
References