Escalating conflicts in Europe, the uncertain future of US-Ukraine aid and then terrible news from Ukraine: the third European summit was not under a favorable star.
The European summit in Granada was overshadowed by one of the most devastating attacks in Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to authorities, at least 51 people died in Russian shelling in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office said a cafe and a grocery store were hit not far from the city of Kupyansk. She also published photos and a video showing piles of rubble and people lying motionless on the ground.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) assured Ukraine of another anti-aircraft system after previously rejecting the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles out of concern about an escalation of the war. Scholz made the announcement after a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the summit in Granada.
At the start of the summit, Zelensky once again made an urgent appeal to his European partners and warned against a decrease in support for the defensive war against Russia. If Russia gets a break now, it will have restored its military potential, which was destroyed by Ukraine, by 2028, he said at the top meeting with almost 50 other heads of state and government.
Zelensky warns of danger for Baltic states
The Ukrainian sees particular danger for the Baltic states, which were also once part of the Soviet Union and now belong to NATO and the EU. “Russia is trying to freeze the situation and adapt. It is learning from its mistakes and preparing to move forward,” Zelensky said, citing information from intelligence agencies. The most dangerous enemy is the one who has drawn conclusions “in order to prepare for the next attack.”
In his speech, Zelensky also specifically addressed the possible scenario of a loss of US support due to the budget dispute between the two major US parties. “America helped us – helped Europe survive,” he said. Now we have to be ready in Europe and not hide. Political storms like those in the USA are wanted by Russia and other opponents.
Tensions among the summit participants
Heads of state and government from around 50 countries came to the southern Spanish city of Granada on Thursday for the third summit meeting of the new European Political Community (EPG). In the format initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron, the EU states have been trying to improve cooperation with other European countries for around a year now. However, there have been no far-reaching successes to date.
The main reason is ongoing tensions and conflicts among the members – also with regard to support for Ukraine. In the EU, Russia-friendly Hungary, for example, is blocking the financing of arms deliveries to Ukraine. In addition, after the election in Slovakia last Sunday, the winner Robert Fico could take a similar course to Viktor Orban 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.
Discussions about further EU-Ukraine aid
It is therefore also questionable whether proposals by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and chief diplomat Josep Borrell to provide an additional 70 billion euros for Ukraine in the period up to the end of 2027 can be implemented. 20 billion euros of this will be used to supply weapons and military equipment, the other 50 billion euros will primarily be used to support the Ukrainian state budget and reconstruction. Borrell warned on Thursday that even this money would not compensate for a loss of US funding. “Europe certainly cannot replace the USA,” he said in response to a journalist’s question on Thursday.
Azerbaijan refuses to hold talks in Granada
The recently escalated tensions between Serbia and Kosovo and between Armenia and Azerbaijan also caused disillusionment in Granada. The EU had hoped for a mediation meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Granada because Aliyev did not want to come because of the “anti-Azerbaijani sentiment” of the other summit participants.
Aliyev is criticized for allowing Nagorno-Karabakh to be conquered at the end of September. A good 100,000 residents of the predominantly Armenian population have since fled to their motherland.
Kosovo calls for sanctions against Serbia
Meanwhile, Kosovo linked further talks with Serbia to Western punitive measures. There is no reason to meet before sanctions have been imposed on Serbian President Aleksander Vucic, said President Vjosa Osmani on the sidelines of the summit. “First the sanctions, and then we can talk about the rest,” emphasized Osmani.
In the conflict with Kosovo, Belgrade recently deployed Serbian troops around Kosovo. There had previously been an attack by Serbian paramilitaries on Kosovar police officers. Serbia’s former province of Kosovo declared independence in 2008 after a bloody war. Serbia still does not recognize this.
Germany delivers another Patriot system
Regarding the commitment to the anti-aircraft system, Scholz explained: “That is what is most necessary now.” It must be expected that Russia will try again in the winter to threaten infrastructure and cities in Ukraine with missile and drone attacks. Shortly before, it had become known that Scholz did not want to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to the war zone for the time being, despite urgent requests from Ukraine.
Scholz will also be in Granada this Friday. The current Spanish EU Council Presidency has invited people to an informal EU summit following the European summit. Among other things, it should be about the fight against unwanted migration. There is also the question of how the EU must prepare for the planned admission of other countries such as Ukraine. EU Council President Charles Michel recently set the goal that the EU should have completed the reforms necessary for enlargement by 2030.