Ukrainian president Zelenskyy arrives in Moldova for European summit
Bulboaca, Moldova, Jun 1 (EFE).- Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived Thursday at the European leaders’ summit in Moldova, where he was welcomed by Moldovan president Maia Sandu.
Zelenskyy thanked Moldovans who have hosted Ukrainians escaping the invasion that Russia launched on its neighbor over a year ago.
“We are grateful to Moldova, to the Moldovan people. We will not forget this,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader also said the war would continue until Ukraine wins or Russia leaves the territories it has occupied.
“When we win, this war will end. Or Russia can stop it sooner by leaving our territory,” he said, responding to a question ahead of the second summit of the European Political Community (EPC) with some 50 European leaders.
He also spoke about his country’s aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
“Ukraine is ready to be in Nato. We are waiting until Nato is ready to accept and see Ukraine.
“I think that security guarantees are very important not only for Ukraine but also for our neighbors (…) because of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the potential threat to other parts of Europe.”
The Ukrainian president’s remarks came in response to what Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said in Oslo on Wednesday about providing the war-torn country with security guarantees to ensure “history will not repeat itself.”
“I think that Stoltenberg supports us, but we need complete unity of partners and we are working on it,” Zelenskyy stressed.
In a Telegram post, Zelenskyy pointed out he would hold “many bilateral meetings” at the summit, saying he was working on the “fighter jet coalition.”
Ukraine’s efforts to join Nato and the European Union go hand in hand with gaining further support for the peace formula proposed by Kyiv, he said.
Zelenskyy was the first leader to arrive at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Ukraine’s border, for his second major international meeting in a few weeks, after the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan’s Hiroshima.EFE
mos-drs/smq/ks
