Zelensky to call for more air defense for Ukraine at European summit in Spain

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in southern Spain on Thursday to partake in the summit of the European Political Community.

The Ukrainian leader said he would hold bilateral meetings with partner countries and work on "enhancing the European security architecture, particularly regional security," Rubryka reports, citing the president's statement. 

"Ukraine's key priority, particularly as winter approaches, is to strengthen air defense," Zelensky said on X, former Twitter. "We have already laid the groundwork for new agreements with partners and look forward to their approval and implementation."

According to the president, the Ukrainian delegation would pay special attention to the Black Sea region as a crucial element for global food security and protection of freedom of navigation.

Spain is hosting the third European Political Community Summit in Granada on October 5, with about 50 leaders — presidents, prime ministers, and the European Union representatives — expected to attend the event. It is the third time the leaders meet in the new European cooperation format initiated by France. 

The first meeting of the European Political Community was held in October 2022 in Prague, with the leaders mainly discussing the global energy crisis and Russia's war against Ukraine. The second meeting of the European Political Community was held on June 1 in Moldova, near Chisinau. Then, 50 European leaders, presidents, and prime ministers assembled in the small Moldovan village of Bulboaca, located not far from the border of Russian-occupied Transnistria and only 22 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The Granada summit will be reportedly attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Prime Minister of Great Britain Rishi Sunak. According to Reuters, European leaders are set to reaffirm their long-term support for Ukraine at the event.