Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit calls on Moscow to end war

Participants of the 5th Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Kyiv agreed to support Ukraine and condemned Russia's actions, calling on Moscow to immediately end the war, Report informs, citing Interfax-Ukraine.

The call was included in the summit's final declaration.

"We strongly condemn Russia's intensified regular massive attacks on Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine, which constitute a gross violation of international law," the document said.

The summit participants emphasized the priority of strengthening Ukraine's air defense system, including through the supply of relevant systems and missiles to intercept ballistic missiles.

The declaration also called for the return of deported and forcibly displaced Ukrainian citizens, including children, the release of unlawfully detained civilians and prisoners of war, and accountability for crimes committed against Ukraine.

The signatories also backed stronger sanctions pressure on Russia, efforts to counter sanctions evasion and deeper international security cooperation.

The document expressed support for opening negotiation clusters with Ukraine and Moldova as part of the EU accession process, as well as for Ukraine's membership in NATO.

The summit was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the leaders of Albania, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Bulgaria, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The next Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit is scheduled to be held in Slovenia in 2027. Serbia was the only participating country that refused to sign the final declaration.