Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez began third summit of the European Political Community with a welcoming speech before the plenary session, which is not attended by the leaders of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky does.

The absence of the first two became known this Wednesday, and although the Turk resorted to “scheduling reasons” to justify himself, a number of Azerbaijani media explained that Aliyev’s cancellation was due to disagreements with countries that play the role of mediators, besides the European Union, in open conflict with Armenia.

According to these media reports, France and Germany opposed the participation of the Turkish President in the meeting, Baku’s main ally at the six-party meeting will begin negotiations on a potential peace agreement.

The absence of Erdogan and Aliyev was regretted by several figures upon arrival at the meeting, including the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrellwho called it a “shame”, or the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.

Despite this, the meeting of the Prime Minister of Armenia will take place. Nikol PashinyanPresident of France, Emmanuel MacronChancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholzand European Council President Charles Michel, sources in the community said.

The Armenian leader will also meet with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyenwhich will inform you about the increase in European humanitarian aid to 10.4 million people.

Zelensky has reached the top

In turn, the President of Ukraine Early on Wednesday morning he confirmed that he was in the Andalusian city. to take part in the summit of the European Political Community, thereby resolving the mystery of its possible participation, which was kept secret for security reasons.

Upon arrival at the Granada Conference Center, where the meeting is taking place, Zelensky emphasized the need Europe united against Russian hybrid attacks and will push for more air defense systems to be urgently sent to Ukraine due to the risk that Russia will attack its energy infrastructure again this winter.

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“The first challenge we all face is defend the unity of Europe, And I’m talking not only about the EU countries, but about the whole of Europe,” he said.

When asked about the non-inclusion of aid to Ukraine in the latest budget extension approved by the US Congress, Zelensky replied that the Ukrainians “We stopped worrying in the early days of a full-scale war.”

Zelensky recalled that Biden pledged ‘100%’ White House support and assured that Ukraine also intends to continue to receive assistance from the two American political parties in Congress.

For her part, Usrula von der Leyen recalled that the EU institutions are working on approve a new assistance program for Ukraine worth 50 billion euros for the next four years, because Kyiv needs “predictability and trust.”

In addition, the German expressed confidence that the United States is working on solve scheduling problems which prevented him from including new aid to Ukraine in his latest budget extension approved by Congress.

In the same spirit, Borrell warned that The EU cannot “replace” US aid to Kyivsince he is a “necessary” actor for Kiev residents.

(according to information from EFE)