Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife were welcomed with military honors in Poland at the start of a visit meant as a gesture of thanks to Warsaw for its crucial support in Kyiv’s defense against Russia’s invasion.

The state visit to neighboring Poland is a rare foray for Zelensky out of Ukraine since Russia unleashed the war in February 2022. Although it follows trips to the U.S., Britain, France and Belgium, it stands out from those because it was announced in advance, without the secrecy of past visits.

Poland, a member of NATO and the European Union, is modernizing its military with orders of tanks and other equipment from U.S. and South Korean producers, while the United States has also beefed up its military presence in Poland.

Warsaw has been a key ally for Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and has also become a hub for humanitarian aid and weapons en route to Ukraine.

Zelensky is to meet with Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, attend an economic forum focused on the reconstruction of Ukraine and meet some of the Ukrainians who have found refuge in Poland. Poland has been a key destination for Ukrainian refugees, particularly those who want to remain close because they plan to return or want to be able to visit loved ones.