President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke at the inaugural plenary session of the VIII Summit of the European Political Community, where he outlined key security challenges and called on partners to strengthen cooperation.
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the war in Iran remains unresolved and may lead to prolonged instability, which will affect the rising cost of living and political changes in European countries already this year. He emphasized the need for real energy and security cooperation, particularly in preparing for winter and overcoming energy challenges, and also called for work on a long-term solution regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the fate of the people of Iran.
The President noted that this summer will be a period when Vladimir Putin will decide whether to expand the war or move to diplomacy, and stressed the need to push him toward a diplomatic path.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew attention to reports of a possible May 9 parade in Moscow without military equipment, which could be the first such case in many years. According to him, this indicates Russia’s limited capabilities and concerns about security, particularly due to the threat of drones.
In this regard, the President called not to ease sanctions against Russia and thanked the countries that are countering Russia’s shadow oil fleet.
Separately, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Europe must be able to independently produce everything necessary for protection against ballistic strikes and other types of weapons.
He also presented the Drone Deals initiative as Ukraine’s contribution to Europe’s collective security. According to him, it предусматривает объединение стран для совместной работы, производства и защиты, а также создание надежной системы противодействия дронам и потенциальным атакам в воздухе, на море и на суше.