President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken his quest for more arms and Ukrainian membership of powerful Western institutions to a sprawling summit of European leaders.
But as Zelenskyy renewed his demands for NATO and EU membership at the European Political Community meeting in Moldova, held on Thursday, leaders of the military alliance gathered in Norway and were divided on Ukraine’s call.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Moldova’s President Maia Sandu
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Moldova’s President Maia Sandu appear during a meeting on the European Political Community, Moldova June 1, 2023 [Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters]
Zelenskyy said all countries bordering Russia should be full members of both organisations since Moscow “tries to swallow only those who are outside of the common security space”.
He called for more European support on the ground, which he said is saving lives and “literally accelerating peace”.
According to Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker, reporting from the summit, Zelenskyy was the first foreign leader to arrive at the venue, a move unlikely “by chance”.
Participants pose for a family photo during a meeting of the European Political Community at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova June 1, 2023. [REUTERS/ Vladislav Culiomza]
Participants pose for a photo during a meeting of the European Political Community at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova June 1, 2023 [Vladislav Culiomza/Reuters]
The choice to hold the summit in Moldova, a former Soviet republic of approximately 2.6 million people near Ukraine, was seen as a message to the Kremlin from the EU and Moldova’s pro-Western government.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told the summit, “Our meeting today in Moldova speaks volumes. The country borders on Ukraine and here, the Russian threat is palpable.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also attended.
Meanwhile in Norway, divisions among NATO allies about the speed of Kyiv’s accession became apparent, only weeks before a decisive mid-July summit in Vilnius.
