Ukraine at the center of the conversation
Zelenskyj arrives in Spain for the European summit
October 5, 2023, 10:09 a.m
The newly formed European Political Community meets in Granada, Spain. Heads of state and government from 50 countries are there – including Ukrainian President Zelensky. His country will be at the center of the discussions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj says he will take part in the summit of the new European Political Community (EPG) in Spain. Zelenskyj wrote in the morning on X, formerly Twitter, that he had arrived in Granada. The aim of the summit is to “ensure security and stability in our common European home”.
Ukraine has substantial proposals for the new security architecture in Europe. The 45-year-old announced that Kiev would focus primarily on the Black Sea region, food security and shipping security.
Kiev’s proposals should be viewed against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing naval blockade of Ukrainian ports. In July, Moscow let the year-long agreement on the shipment of Ukrainian grain expire and has since then increasingly attacked Ukrainian Black Sea ports again. The Ukrainian leadership also describes the shelling as an attack against the international food supply, which primarily affects the poorest countries.
EPG meeting with 50 country representatives
Heads of state and government from around 50 countries are expected in Granada for the third summit of the new European Political Community. In the format initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron, the states of the European Union want to improve cooperation with other European countries.
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and its consequences are likely to be the focus of the talks in Granada. From the EU’s perspective, the summit should once again send a clear signal to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin that his country is now almost completely isolated in Europe.
However, the deliberations are overshadowed by signs of crumbling support for Ukraine. In the USA, financial aid for Kiev is pending due to the internal budget dispute. In the EU, Russia-friendly Hungary is blocking aid to Ukraine. In addition, after the election in Slovakia, the winner Robert Fico could take a similar course to Viktor Orbán in Hungary. Fico had announced before the election that he wanted to end the arms aid, which was unpopular with the population, and only help Ukraine with civilian goods if he came to power.
Zelenskyj also personally attended the EPG summit in Moldova at the beginning of June. Most recently, among other things, he was at the UN General Assembly in New York. Germany will be represented at the summit by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The only larger European states that are not part of the EPG are Russia and its partner country Belarus.