President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed his case for Ukraine to be part of the NATO military alliance as he joined nearly 50 European leaders on Thursday in neighboring Moldova.
close to his nation’s border ahead of an expected counter-offensive against Russia’s invasion.
Addressing leaders at the start of the gathering in the town of Bulboaca, just 20 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, Zelensky asked NATO members to take a clear decision on whether to admit Ukraine.
He also repeated calls for Western fighter jets to protect Ukrainian skies after a further strike on Kyiv.
The leaders are making a symbolic show of support for Ukraine and Moldova as well as discussing heightened ethnic tensions in Kosovo and efforts to find a peaceful solution between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
NATO surveillance planes flew over the summit in Moldova, a country of 2.6 million that is seeking to join the European Union but wary of Russian designs on its country. Moldova shut its airspace except for official delegation planes.
„This year is for decisions,” Zelenskiy said in English. „In summer in Vilnius at the NATO summit, a clear invitation from members of Ukraine is needed, and security guarantees on the way to NATO membership are needed.”
Moldovan President Maia Sandu, whose pro-Western views have strained ties with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine last year, pushed for talks to make Moldova’s EU entry as fast as possible.
Zelensky said Ukraine was working to hold a summit to discuss ending the war but had not set a date, as Kyiv wanted more countries to participate.
Moldova received EU candidate status in June of last year alongside Ukraine.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte noted the significance of the summit’s location.
“Our meeting today in Moldova speaks volumes. The country borders on Ukraine and here, the Russian threat is palpable,” he said
Moldova has offered its support for Ukraine and taken in refugees fleeing the war.
Zelensky to meet with European Commission chief in Kyiv ‘sometime ‘ Friday
