Zelenskyy holds key talks with Southeast European leaders on EU path, regional security

ISTANBUL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that he held talks with leaders from Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Serbia during the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit, focusing on regional security, energy cooperation and Ukraine’s path to European Union membership.

Zelenskyy said he met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov to discuss bilateral ties, Black Sea security and energy cooperation.

“We have fulfilled the necessary conditions and expect the opening of the negotiating clusters in the near future,” he said, thanking Bulgaria for its “real support” through 11 defense aid packages.

The Ukrainian leader also held a first trilateral meeting with Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Romanian President Nicusor Dan, underlining joint efforts to counter Russian hybrid threats, cyberattacks and military aggression.

“Together with Romania, we will certainly help Moldova in resisting Russia’s destructive influence,” he said.

Zelenskyy added that they discussed energy, military cooperation, infrastructure and mobility improvements, noting that sanctions and their role in the peace process were addressed separately.

He also met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whose first visit to Ukraine Zelenskyy called “truly important.”

The talks covered EU integration, bilateral ties and Serbia’s initiative to assist with the reconstruction of Ukrainian settlements.

“We value Serbia’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zelenskyy said.