Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should arrive in Croatia for the first time on Wednesday to take part in the Ukraine – Southeast Europe summit in Dubrovnik, which he is co-organizing together with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. reported by Barron’s
This is the third summit in this format – the first was held in August 2022 in Athens, the second in February 2024 in Tirana – and the main goal of the Dubrovnik meeting is to express the solidarity and support of the countries of Southeast Europe to Ukraine, which has been in conflict for more than two and a half years. is facing Russian aggression.
Twelve countries to participate in summit
According to sources from the Croatian government, in addition to Zelenskyy and Plenković, high officials of twelve countries of the region should participate in the summit, including three presidents, five prime ministers, and four foreign ministers.
The participants of the summit should accept the joint Dubrovnik declaration, the text of which is still being negotiated, but it should follow the path of earlier declarations from the summits in Athens and Tirana, according to Hina news agency.
The main points of the declaration, as it is known, should include condemnation of Russian aggression, support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula, support for President Zelenskyy’s peace plan, demand for prosecution of war crimes in Ukraine, support for Kyiv’s European integration and NATO membership when conditions, and support for energy security and reconstruction of Ukraine after the end of the war.
On the sidelines of the summit, Plenković and Zelenskyy should sign an agreement on cooperation between Croatia and Ukraine, which would formalize the activities between the two countries that already exist, especially in the field of humanitarian aid, demining and prosecution of war crimes. According to sources from the government, the agreement would “put the aid that Croatia already provides to Ukraine on a long-term basis.”
Largest turnout yet for Ukraine-Southeastern Europe summit
The turnout of high-ranking officials of the region’s countries at the third consecutive Ukraine-Southeastern Europe summit is known to be the largest so far.
The arrival of Slovenian President NataÅ¡a Pirc Musar, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović and Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, as well as five prime ministers: Greek Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Bulgarian Dimitar GlavÄev, Albanian Edi Rama, North Macedonian Hristijan Mickoski and Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers Borjana KriÅ¡to was announced.
Turkey, Serbia, Romania, and Moldova will be represented at the level of foreign ministers.
It is known that the participants will use the summit for a series of bilateral meetings, and the Vice President of the European Commission Dubravka Å uica, and the Secretary General of the OECD, Matijas Korman, will also take part in the meeting in Dubrovnik.
