"It is very important for Ukraine to have a defensive shield to get through the winter," the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, asked the leaders of the European Union this Thursday, who this morning appeared in person in Granada to participate in the summit. of the European Political Community. "The main challenge right now is to maintain European unity, not only of the EU but of all of Europe" to confront "Russian disinformation" to confront Kyiv's allies, Zelensky has said.
His presence in Granada was a key element in a meeting where the eastern expansion of the community club will be discussed, but last night he still could not "guarantee" his presence in Spain after being invited by the Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, and other leaders. However, earlier today, Zelensky announced his arrival in Granada on his social networks. "Our common goal is to ensure the security and stability of our common European home," said the Ukrainian head of state.
Zelensky has announced that he will present “substantial proposals” to strengthen the “European security architecture” and has reiterated that his main concern is air defenses. “We have already laid the foundations for new agreements with partners and we hope that they will be approved and executed,” he added, referring to the upcoming shipment of combat aircraft to Ukraine by several NATO allies.
Asked by the international press in Granada about the political situation in the United States, where a fratricidal confrontation between Republicans has prevented Congress from approving a $6 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Zelensky, with obvious signs of fatigue, admitted that the political situation is difficult.
"This year I have been in Washington with President Biden and he guaranteed me that there is 100% support from both parties in Congress and that is important but we are facing a difficult electoral period in the United States, with different desires, some strange "said the Ukrainian leader.
The more than forty European heads of State and Government who will attend the summit this Thursday will have the opportunity to visit the Alhambra and will be entertained with a dinner with an Andalusian flavor, according to official sources. Among those attending will be the leaders of the 27 EU member states, as well as the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, or the leaders of the countries aspiring to join the bloc: the Western Balkans, as well as Armenia, Georgia and Moldova.
The Kings of Spain will be in charge of receiving, together with the Palace of Charles V in the Alhambra, the leaders who will attend the third meeting of this intergovernmental forum whose main objective is to show European unity against Russia. For the occasion, and as already happened with the dinner held at the Prado Museum in Madrid during the NATO Summit in 2022, their partners have also been invited.
