Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived in Granada, Spain, to attend the European Political Community Summit. The summit aims to assure Zelenskiy of Europe’s long-term support amid concerns over American aid to Ukraine. President Joe Biden recently voiced fears that infighting within the Republican party in Congress could potentially harm aid to Kyiv.
Zelenskiy’s main priorities include strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses, particularly as winter approaches, and addressing the disruption in food exports caused by Russia’s withdrawal from a deal that allowed Ukraine to safely ship food products via the Black Sea. Russia has rejected U.N. attempts to revive the agreement, causing Ukraine to find temporary solutions for its food exports.
Exporting grain overland through EU countries has sparked tensions with Poland and other eastern members of the EU, who seek to protect their own farmers. Ukraine and Brussels are discussing the expansion of alternative sea routes.
The summit in Granada provides an opportunity for European leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, particularly in the face of political turbulence in both the U.S. and Europe. President Biden’s concerns about Ukrainian aid due to Republican infighting in Congress have raised questions about continued support.
While some European countries, such as Slovakia and Poland, have expressed reservations about military aid to Ukraine, key officials from Ukraine, the EU, and NATO believe that support for Kyiv will remain steady as it is in the West’s best interests. Chancellor Scholz expressed confidence that U.S. support for Ukraine would continue.
Aside from discussing Ukraine, meetings on the sidelines of the summit will also focus on the crises between Azerbaijan and Armenia and between Serbia and Kosovo. Recent conflicts in these regions have resulted in an exodus of ethnic Armenians and have strained EU mediation efforts. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev decided not to attend the summit, dashing hopes of a first meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
While many EU leaders have condemned Azerbaijan’s military operation, others recognize the need to address the immediate humanitarian crisis in Armenia and provide political and economic support to the country. The summit aims to find solutions and offer assistance to alleviate the crises in the Western Balkans and Caucasus.
As Europe comes together to reaffirm support for Ukraine and address regional conflicts, the outcome of the Granada summit holds significant importance for the stability and security of the region.
Reporting by Andrew Gray, Belen Carreno, Inti Landauro, Gabriela Baczynska; Additional reporting by Andreas Rinke in Berlin and Anna Pruchnicka; Edited by Grant McCool and Gareth Jones