Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeated his appeal to European leaders to approve attacks on military targets inside Russia with Western weapons.
Britain on Thursday hosted a summit of the European Political Community, a forum established by EU members and their neighbors. About 40 countries took part in the meeting.
They gathered at Blenheim Palace in southern England, the birthplace of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who led the Allies to victory in World War Two.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at the opening of the summit, “The threat from Russia reaches right across Europe.”
He stressed the need to support Ukraine to meet its energy needs and to “tackle the ships that are helping Russian to evade sanctions.”
Zelenskyy said, “We have maintained unity in Europe and our acting together,” adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin “missed his primary target” and “failed to create division in Europe.”
He criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban without mentioning him by name over his recent visit to Russia for talks with Putin.
Zelenskyy renewed his call for permission to use arms provided by the West in striking military facilities inside Russia. He said, “The fewer restrictions we have on the use of effective weapons, the more Russia will seek peace.”
At a news conference following the summit, Starmer was asked about the potential impact of Donald Trump winning the US presidential election in November. Trump has voiced skepticism about aid for Ukraine.
Starmer insisted the best possible support should be continued, and stressed the importance of a stronger NATO “with increased resolve to stand up to Russian aggression”.