Russo-Ukrainian war news: Missile attack on Kiev kills 3

“This year to make decisions,” Mr. Zelensky said at the European Political Group summit in a castle outside the Moldovan capital. Speak English. “In the summer in Vilnius at the NATO summit, a clear invitation is needed from the members of Ukraine, security guarantees are needed on the way to NATO membership.” were his comments Reported by Reuters.

Few expect tangible progress to be made at the one-day summit of 47 leaders.

But the gathering – a forum for nearly all of Europe’s leaders – sought to show Western solidarity in defiance of the Kremlin’s assessment that political and economic fatigue would undermine support for Ukraine. Russia and its close ally, Belarus, were not invited, and Turkey’s newly re-elected president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, chose not to attend.

Kaja Kalas, Prime Minister of Estonia, said that the presence of several leaders sent “a signal that multilateralism is already working, and also that we are behind Moldova and we are behind Ukraine”. She added that the West needed to show President Vladimir Putin that he could not wait for Ukraine and the West. “Once Putin realizes and Russia realizes that they made a mistake in the war in Ukraine, the war will be over.”

Thursday’s meeting had a loose agenda that focused on issues such as promoting political dialogue and enhancing security, stability and prosperity. According to the forum description on the European Union website.

Some analysts have questioned its value, not least because of disagreements within Europe over the war. But others argue that while the European political community is new – the first meeting took place in October – it could provide opportunities for dialogue.

Arriving at the summit, Mr. Zelensky said security guarantees are also important for Moldova. The war in Ukraine and its economic fallout have reverberated in the Eastern European country, which has taken in large numbers of Ukrainian refugees.

Moldova has faced increasing pressure on its leadership, and this year President Maia Sandu accused Russia of trying to overthrow her government through protests organized by pro-Russian forces.

I think security guarantees are very important, not only for Ukraine. For all neighbours,” Mr. Zelensky told reporters after meeting Ms. Sandu. “What is very important – our future is in the EU and NATO.” Ukraine took some of its first steps towards EU membership about a decade ago.

Mr. Zelensky, who spent the first post-invasion months in Kiev as a show of defiance, has traveled extensively in Europe in recent weeks and attended a Group of Seven summit in Japan last month. At every forum, he would press his case for greater military and diplomatic support for his country.

However, Ukraine was not the only issue discussed at the summit.

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan are also expected to meet at the summit in the latest talks focused on the long-running dispute over their common borders and the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Discussions on the issues have also been held outside Washington and Brussels in recent weeks.

Charles Michel, President of the European Council, who led the negotiations, said before the summit that the two leaders “have made some progress and I hope that today is an occasion to confirm the common political will to normalize relations between the two countries,” according to a Reuters report.

Andrew Higgins Contribute to the preparation of reports.