The monarch admires artwork from young Ukrainian artists and reflects on a potential visit to Ukraine.

At the opening of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) headquarters in London, King Charles shared his wish to visit Ukraine after receiving a poignant painting from a young Ukrainian artist. The artwork, by 16-year-old Sofia Franchuk, depicts the country’s golden fields and blue skies, capturing the essence of Ukraine.

During his visit, Charles viewed the artwork from the Kids and Art for Ukraine initiative, a project that provides humanitarian and educational support to Ukrainian children. The project, founded by Olga Evans and Stanislav Suprunenko, features paintings from young Ukrainians, including Sofia, who created the painting despite the harsh winter.

As the King admired the painting, he expressed his desire to visit Ukraine, telling Evans, “Before I’m too old, I want to come and visit your country.” Evans, who manages the initiative, shared this conversation with the King after their chat.

Charles’s visit to the EBRD, headquartered in Canary Wharf, marked a significant moment as he was warmly received by the staff. During his time there, he received briefings from executives, including updates on the recent earthquakes in Turkey and the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The EBRD, founded in 1991, has invested over 180 billion euros, with a focus on building open-market economies in the former Communist regions of Eastern Europe.

This visit comes almost 30 years after Charles first opened the bank’s previous headquarters in the City of London.