[5] Travelling to Helsinki onboard a Dutch government plane out of Poland,[6] Zelenskyy was first received on 3 May by President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö at the Presidential Palace.

[8] In the afternoon a Nordic-Ukrainian summit was held, with dignitaries from all five Nordic countries meeting with Zelenskyy including the prime ministers of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland as well as Marin.

Topics endorsed by the Nordic countries included more military and humanitarian aid, as well as support for an eventual membership in NATO and the European Union for Ukraine.

[16] Meloni stated, after an hour-long meeting between the two, that Italy would continue to provide aid to Ukraine and further support the country's ambitions to join the European Union.

[17] The assurances came during a time when further aid to Ukraine is a fraught subject in Italy, with Meloni's government coalition partners expressing concern over it while their past ties to the Kremlin worried some observers.

[18] Travelling by car from Rome to Vatican City, Zelenskyy met with Pope Francis where the two discussed paths for peace in Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia over a 40-minute long meeting.

[19] The meeting came after comments made by Francis earlier in the year where he hinted as at the Vatican serving in a mediation role for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

[17] The two also discussed the humanitarian situation facing children in Ukraine, with an estimated ten-thousand being deported into Russia during the war, something Francis had expressed concerns over before.

[26] Macron made assurances of more deliveries to Ukraine of air defense systems, tanks, and armored vehicles, including French AMX-10 RCs, to be announced in the following weeks.

[30] The trips to the western and northern European countries were analysed by observers as an attempt by Zelenskyy to ensure continued military, diplomatic, and humanitarian support in Ukraine's war against Russia.

"[33] Zelenskyy stated his hopes to build a "fighter jet coalition" during his tour of Europe, with the aim of securing more of the weaponry described as vital to fight against Russian air power.

[37] On 19 May, President Biden reversed the United States's previous position, announcing they would join the effort to train Ukrainian pilots on flying F-16 fighter jets; a move expedited by a rise in support in Europe after Zelenskyy's trip through the continent earlier that month.