Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is again seeking political and other support from a dozen countries in south-east Europe during a summit in Croatia. The summit comes as the country’s president, Zoran Milanovic, has criticized Western policies regarding the war with Russia, stating that he will not sign for Croatian soldiers to be present in Ukraine. Milanovic’s comments reflect the divided views on the war, with some countries in the region providing Ukraine with support, while others, such as Serbia, have not imposed sanctions on Russia.
Zelensky’s visit to Croatia is aimed at strengthening defense cooperation and furthering Ukraine’s path to the European Union and NATO. He has arrived in Dubrovnik to meet with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and representatives of other countries in the region, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Turkey. During the summit, Zelensky is expected to sign an agreement with Croatia on further cooperation, particularly regarding humanitarian aid, demining, and war crimes prosecution.
The summit also aims to condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and support Zelensky’s peace effort, Ukraine’s membership in NATO, and its reconstruction after the war. Interior minister Davor Bozinovic emphasized that “respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states is common for all states of south-east Europe as a basis for peace in Europe since the end of World War Two.” This echoes the sentiment expressed by Zelensky, who has stated that the summit will discuss international efforts to bring peace closer and joint responses to security challenges.
Volodymyr Zelensky (Image via Getty)
Despite the support from some countries in the region, Ukraine is still awaiting word from Western partners on its repeated requests to use long-range weapons to hit targets on Russian soil. Some Balkan states have provided Ukraine with short-range ammunition, but Kyiv believes that more is needed to repel Russian advances. The summit is a crucial opportunity for Zelensky to garner support and strengthen Ukraine’s position as it continues to face the challenges posed by the ongoing war.
The summit in Dubrovnik is a key event in Ukraine’s efforts to secure political and military support from its allies in the region. As the war with Russia drags on, Zelensky’s efforts to build a united front against Russian aggression are crucial to Ukraine’s future security and stability.
