Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Dubrovnik, Croatia, for a summit with leaders from a dozen countries in southeast Europe, where he will seek political and other forms of support in his country’s ongoing war with Russia. However, not everyone is on board with Zelensky’s efforts, as Croatian President Zoran Milanovic has criticized Western policies regarding the war and announced that he will not sign agreements for Croatian soldiers to be present in Ukraine.
Milanovic’s comments were met with opposition from Zelensky, who stated that the NATO mission to train soldiers in Ukraine is necessary for the country’s security. Ukraine is still awaiting a response to its repeated requests to use long-range weapons provided by Western partners to target Russian soil. Some Balkan states have been providing Ukraine with short-range ammunition, but Zelensky is seeking more support to repel Russian advances.
Despite the divided views, Zelensky will sign an agreement with Croatia on further cooperation, particularly regarding humanitarian aid, demining, and war crimes prosecution experience that Croatia gained during its own war in the 1990s. The summit is also expected to result in a declaration condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and supporting Zelensky’s peace efforts, as well as Ukraine’s membership in NATO and its reconstruction after the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Image via Getty)
Other leaders attending the summit include premiers, presidents, and foreign ministers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Turkey. Serbia is the only country in Europe that has not imposed sanctions on Russia, although its president has repeatedly stated that Serbia respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The summit comes at a critical time for Ukraine, as it continues to face significant challenges in its war against Russia. The country is seeking more support from its international partners to help it defeat the Russian invasion and rebuild its infrastructure and economy. The declaration is expected to provide a significant boost to Zelensky’s efforts, as well as reaffirm the commitment of southeast European countries to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
