Participants of the 5th “Ukraine – South-East Europe” Summit held in Kyiv reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, condemned Russia’s actions, and called on Moscow to stop the war immediately.
“Elchi” reports, citing the “Interfax-Ukraine” agency, that this was stated in the summit’s final declaration.
The document states: “We strongly condemn Russia’s intensified regular mass attacks against Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine. These attacks are a gross violation of international law.”
Summit participants emphasized that strengthening Ukraine’s air defense system is a priority. To this end, the importance of increasing the supply of relevant air defense systems and missiles used to intercept ballistic missiles was noted.
The declaration also includes a call for the return of deported and forcibly displaced Ukrainian citizens, including children, the release of illegally detained civilians and prisoners of war, as well as holding those responsible for crimes committed against Ukraine accountable.
Furthermore, the signatories supported strengthening sanction pressure on Russia, preventing the circumvention of restrictions, and reinforcing international cooperation in the field of security.
The document also expressed support for opening new stages of negotiations within the framework of the European Union accession process for Ukraine and Moldova, as well as for Ukraine’s membership in NATO.
The summit was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders from Albania, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria. The meeting was held with the participation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The next “Ukraine – South-East Europe” summit is planned to be held in Slovenia in 2027. Serbia was the only country among the summit participants that refused to sign the final declaration.