diplomacy
Zelenskyj arrived in Moldova for the European summit
Maia Sandu welcomes Volodymyr Zelenskyj after his arrival in Bulboaca. photo
© Vadim Ghirda/AP/dpa
The second summit of the new European Political Community is intended to send a clear message to Russia’s president: Putin’s Russia is now almost completely isolated in Europe.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally attends the summit of the new European Political Community (EPC) in Moldova. Zelenskyj was welcomed by Moldova’s President Maia Sandu at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca. He wrote on the short message service Telegram: “Today we are working in Moldova. Participation in the summit of the European Political Community. Many bilateral meetings. We are developing a coalition of fighters and offer a coalition of ‘patriots’. EU, NATO, peace formula. Everything, to protect our future.”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the European summit in Moldova. This was announced by the German delegation. For Scholz and Selenskyj, it is the third personal encounter within three weeks: in mid-May, the Ukrainian head of state was in Berlin for the first time since the Russian war of aggression began, and a few days later he saw Scholz at the G7 summit in Japan.
According to German information, Scholz and Macron will also try to contribute to a de-escalation in the Kosovo conflict. The two want to speak separately with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani. The Chancellor arrived in the Moldovan capital Chisinau in the morning. The European Political Community (EPG) summit will be held in the nearby Mimi Castle, just 20 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
However, the talks in Bulboaca are likely to focus on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its consequences. From the EU’s point of view, the summit should send a clear signal to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin that his country is now almost completely isolated in Europe. The summit site is only about 20 kilometers from the border with Ukraine.
The official program of the EPG summit includes security issues as well as energy supply and climate protection. It is also about how the still high dependence of European countries on Russian gas and oil can be reduced.
Selenskyj had recently traveled to the summits of the Arab League in Saudi Arabia and the G7 group of leading democratic economic powers in Japan. In Moldova, however, he is not just a guest, but a real member, since the Ukraine is part of the new EPG.