(Patria) - Representatives of Southeast European countries adopted the Dubrovnik Declaration at today's Summit, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
This is the third Summit of Ukraine and Southeast European countries since Russia began its invasion of the country in February 2022, writes Radio Free Europe.
The declaration condemns Russian aggression, supports Ukraine's territorial integrity, including the Crimean peninsula, expresses support for Zelensky's peace plan, and emphasizes that the withdrawal of Russian troops is a condition for peace.
Leaders of the countries supported Kyiv's European integration and NATO membership when conditions are met.
The declaration highlighted the importance of Ukraine's energy security, especially in view of the upcoming winter. In this context, assistance to the country was considered to mitigate the consequences suffered by the energy sector from Russian attacks.
It further states that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant must be returned under Ukraine's control and operate in accordance with the principles of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Zaporizhzhia is currently under Russian control.
The declaration recalls the importance of aligning with the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy. The EU has imposed sanctions on Russia through this policy, which are not explicitly mentioned in the Declaration.
- The Dubrovnik Declaration summarizes the strong political will of the countries of this part of Europe, who, each in their own way, have strongly supported Ukraine over the past two and a half years. We will continue to do so - said the Summit host, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, at a press conference.
The meeting was attended by representatives of countries from the region - Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, EU member states - Slovenia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania, as well as Moldova and Turkey.
Even before the Dubrovnik Declaration was released, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced at a separate press conference that the Serbian delegation had managed to amend several positions in the document.
According to him, the position on the obligation to impose sanctions on Russia was amended from the original version of the Declaration.
- That position was changed and now reads that 'countries are encouraged' to align with EU measures against Russia - Vučić explained.
Serbia has not aligned with any decision on sanctions against Russia to date.
According to Vučić, who expressed a desire for peace in Ukraine, at Serbia's request, the terms "military aid" and "occupation of Crimea" were removed.
At the beginning of the Summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that peace cannot be expected if Europe is not united.
- No one in Europe needs to be reminded how precious peace is, especially here in the Balkans. What is happening in the Balkans and what is happening in Ukraine in a way determines the stability of the entire Europe. Thank you for your support and for standing against Russia's attempts to destabilize this region as well - Zelensky said.
He invited Summit participants to engage in the peace process, saying that Ukraine is working on a document that will contain the conditions that "need to be met for a just end to the war".
When asked by journalists about possible concessions in peace negotiations, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that "allowing concessions that would entail territorial losses would be the worst possible message to both international law and relations".
- This would give a huge green light to any stronger actor with expansionist ambitions to commit similar aggression anywhere in the world - Plenković stated, reminding that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been ongoing for almost 1,000 days.
- Not condemning Russia in this attack on Ukraine would encourage other regimes to do the same or similar. We must not allow this to happen in Southeast Europe - Plenković emphasized.
The two leaders signed a bilateral agreement on long-term support and cooperation before the start of the Summit.
The agreement focuses on Croatia's experience in prosecuting war crimes, support for war veterans, and demining.
Zelensky thanked Croatia for its support to Ukraine and for standing with the Ukrainian people since the beginning of Russian aggression in 2014. Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014.
During the visit, he visited Ukrainian children staying in Croatia with Prime Minister Plenković.
Otherwise, the meeting in the UNESCO-protected city, which is under high security measures, is the third Summit of Ukraine and Southeast Europe.
The first was in Athens in 2022, and the second in Tirana in February this year, which Zelensky also attended. On that occasion, he called for greater support for Ukraine's efforts in deterring Russian forces.
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