Zelenskiy Calls on European Leaders to Provide Security Assurances

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on European leaders to provide security guarantees in support of his bid to join Nato, describing Russia as “the most anti-European state in the world” in his address.

Addressing the first meeting of the European Political Community, attended by almost every nation on the continent barring Russia and Belarus, Zelenskiy urged them to support Ukraine as a matter of self-interest.

Speaking via video link, he warned that the conflict must be won in Ukraine, “so that Russian tanks do not advance on Warsaw or again on Prague. So that Russian artillery does not fire at the Baltic states. So that Russian missiles do not hit the territory of Finland or any other country”.

Zelenskiy announced that his country was applying to join Nato last week, hours after Vladimir Putin officially announced the annexation of four Ukrainian provinces.

Leaders from 44 countries were invited to attend the gathering at Prague castle in the heart of the Czech capital. The only leader missing was Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, although this was due to prior commitments with her nation opening a new session of parliament following snap elections.

Following the meeting it was announced that the leaders plan to convene every six months, with Moldova hosting the next summit. Spain and the UK have been designated as the locations for the two following summits.