Zelensky meets with 50 European leaders in Granada, Spain
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is participating in a meeting with 50 European leaders in Spain “to ensure the security and stability of our common European home,” within the framework of an expanded grouping called the “European Political Community,” where the meeting will focus on improving cooperation despite the worsening conflicts and tensions on the continent.
Zelensky demanded more weapons before winter (EPA)
Zelensky said that saving unity between the member countries of the European Union and all European countries in the face of the attacks launched by Russia by all means, including media disinformation, is the main goal he is currently pursuing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Granada on Thursday (AFP)
These statements came in Zelensky’s speech before the “Group” summit in Granada, Andalusia, where he arrived late Wednesday night on his first visit to Spain. The Ukrainian president called for more weapons to protect his country’s airspace from Russian missiles and drones during the coming winter.
The German government intends to continue to abstain in principle from supplying Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, despite all the demands made by Kiev in this regard. Instead, Germany intends to continue focusing on supporting the Ukrainian armed forces with air defense and artillery systems. German government sources confirmed to the German News Agency on Thursday that media reports on this matter were true. Berlin has not yet issued an official decision in this regard, which means leaving the supply option open at a later time.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said earlier that Berlin believes there is a need for a “protective shield” for Ukraine before next winter, which will include expanding air defense.
A Spanish government source said Thursday that Madrid has offered to provide new air defense systems and anti-drone systems to Ukraine in order to protect energy and port infrastructure. The source added that the Spanish army will also train Ukrainian soldiers to use these new systems, and will also provide them with more mine-clearing equipment.
The third meeting of its kind aims to give countries an opportunity to strengthen dialogue outside the borders of the European Union, which consists of 27 countries, amid the challenges posed by crises, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, in addition to providing opportunities for European leaders to meet in smaller groups to hold informal talks, away from protocols. Official visits.
Before arriving at the summit, Zelensky said on the “X” social media platform, formerly Twitter, that “Ukraine has fundamental proposals in this regard.”
Zelensky with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the Spanish Prime Minister in the center (AFP)
Commenting on the decision of the US Congress to withdraw the aid item to Ukraine from the budget agreement with the White House, Zelensky said: “It is too late to be afraid,” indicating that he enjoys the full support of US President Joe Biden, and that the doubts swirling about the continued support of the United States for his country are due to this period. Troubled elections there. He added that he enjoys the support of both the Democratic and Republican parties in the US Congress, despite the difficult stage.
Zelensky said that his country needs an air defense shield in anticipation of a new, widespread campaign of Russian missile attacks against vital infrastructure and energy facilities, such as those it was exposed to last winter, which caused the deprivation of hundreds of thousands of water, electricity and heating.
The Ukrainian president warned European leaders that Russian President Vladimir Putin was planning to freeze the war in order to rearm his forces, and said: “If Russia decides to freeze its aggression, we will be facing another critical period in 2028 when the Russian army regains its military capabilities, and Europe must not allow Putin is destabilizing European and global security once again.”
For her part, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced upon her arrival in Granada that she was confident of the continuation of US support for Ukraine after the decision taken by the US Congress to dismiss its president, Kevin McCarthy, and she said: “We informed US President Joe Biden earlier this week that US support for Ukraine will continue.” We in the European Union are preparing to take a decision to grant Ukraine an aid package worth 5 billion euros for the period extending from next year until 2027, because Ukraine needs such support and confidence in its allies at this stage. Von der Leyen added that she is confident of continued American support, and that Washington is currently working on setting a timetable for this support.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with French President Emmanuel Macron in Granada on Thursday (AFP)
The President of the Commission recalled the historic meeting held by the Union’s foreign ministers earlier this week in Kiev with the Ukrainian President, which was a strong message to Moscow that the Union would never allow any aggression against any European country.
On Thursday morning, Zelensky held talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union. He said they were fruitful and dealt with a new package of military aid that includes additional capabilities in the field of air defense, artillery and advanced anti-drone systems, as well as equipment to generate electricity. Energy in preparation for winter. He said that he discussed with Sanchez the launch of talks on his country’s accession to the European Union during this summit, thanking the Spanish support that has not ceased since the beginning of the war, and the Spanish government’s strong condemnation of the Russian aggression.
The European Political Community was established last year at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron as a forum for dialogue in order to address common issues and confront global challenges, and an attempt to strengthen the European role on the international scene. It includes member states of the European Union along with 17 other European countries, and is of particular importance in Such as the circumstances that arose from the ongoing war in Ukraine, or the recent crisis in the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Azerbaijan and Armenia. But the absence of President Ilham Aliyev from this summit will prevent the direct talks that the European Union was seeking with his counterpart Nikol Pashinyan, after Azerbaijan denounced what a senior official described as blatant European support for Armenia’s position on the conflict.
European Foreign Policy Representative Josep Borrell expressed his regret at the decision of the Azerbaijani President and his main ally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to be absent from the summit, and said that “their unfortunate absence will prevent addressing a crisis that has so far caused the displacement of more than one hundred thousand people.” Borrell added that the European Union condemns the use of force to settle disputes, expressing his hope that the Azerbaijani and Armenian parties will continue their talks in Brussels to prevent the escalation of this crisis.
The Armenian president is scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and European Council President Charles Michel to discuss European humanitarian aid to Armenian refugees, and Yerevan’s fears that the conflict will spread to other Armenian regions. Azerbaijan, for its part, accused the European Union, especially France, of siding with the Armenian position.
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2023-10-05 13:03:46
