Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged European leaders Thursday to boost their support for his country to join NATO and the European Union, at an unprecedented summit in Moldova, a small country that also fears Russia could destabilize it.

Edited by | Adam Lurked

Politics News section

2 June 2023- Kieve

    While French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Schultz managed to bring together Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo President Fyoza Osmani in an attempt to reduce the existing tension in northern Kosovo.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seized the opportunity presented by the second meeting of the European Political Group (EPC) Thursday in Moldova to push for strong support for his country's accession to NATO and the European Union.

About 50 European leaders gathered just twenty kilometers from the Ukrainian border to send a message of support to the two former Soviet republics.

Zelensky said: "All European countries that share borders with Russia and that do not want Russia to take part of their territory should be full members of NATO and the European Union." Pointing out that "every doubt we show is a trench that Russia will try to occupy."

This, and had met foreign ministers of NATO countries Thursday in Oslo to discuss possible responses to Kyiv's request for membership.

Zelensky spared no effort to ask his allies to provide more fighters and air defense systems for his country. He said, "It is difficult for us today because we do not have modern fighters, and that is why Russia controls the skies."

For her part, Moldovan President Maya Sandu said that this summit "is a clear expression of our unity, strength, and determination to work together (...) as one European family (...) to deter aggression and consolidate peace on the continent," stressing that her country "is committed to joining the European Union decisively.

Similar to the first edition held in Prague last October, the summit was organized in the wine-making castle of Mimi, located in the village of Pulpwaka, about 35 km from the capital, Chisinau, where a group "family photo" was taken for the participants. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was re-elected last week, was absent from the meeting.

"Strong unity and message against war"

For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "We want to send a strong message of unity against Putin's war in Ukraine."

This forum is considered wider than the European Union (20 countries are invited in addition to 27 member states of the bloc) and its idea was launched by French President Emmanuel Macron. The forum brings together countries with different strategic interests, such as Armenia, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Serbia, and Azerbaijan.

In turn, European Union Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said, "Putin's Russia has excluded itself from this society by waging this war on Ukraine."

The European Political Community summit was also an occasion for some bilateral or limited-scale discussions between leaders.

This, and French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Schultz managed to bring together Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo President Fyoza Osmani in an attempt to reduce the existing tension in northern Kosovo.

Macron and Schultz demanded the organization of new elections in the disputed municipalities in northern Kosovo.

The two European leaders also organized a meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in order to make progress in the negotiations aimed at putting an end to the conflict between them.

It is noteworthy that Yerevan and Baku have been fighting for decades to control the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, which is inhabited by the majority of Armenians.

In addition, Macron said: "Europe needs to settle disputes, it is a necessity for our common security," considering that the second summit of the European political group made it possible to "prove the strength" of this group.

For information, the group will hold its third summit next October in the Spanish city of Granada, to be followed by a fourth summit in the first half of 2024 in the United Kingdom.

France 24/AFP

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