The European Union has reportedly chosen not to invite Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to a summit with Latin American leaders, according to an article in Barcelona’s La Vanguardia. This comes just a week after NATO rejected Ukraine’s demands for a clear timeline on NATO membership. The anonymous European diplomats cited by La Vanguardia claim that the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, made the decision not to invite Zelensky to the meeting of the European Union and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Brussels.
Despite not being invited to the summit, Ukraine is expected to be a prominent subject of discussion among the attending leaders, according to unnamed sources. One of the key issues likely to be high on the agenda is food security. The EU has been pushing for the inclusion of condemnation of Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine in the summit’s final document. However, it is unclear whether there is consensus on this issue among the Latin American nations.
La Vanguardia also notes that the previous EU-CELAC summit took place in 2015. The current focus of the EU is on strengthening its relationships with the Global South, hence its effort to woo Latin American leaders.
Last week, NATO’s decision not to provide Ukraine with a clear timeline for membership fell short of Ukraine’s expectations. Instead, NATO stated that membership would be granted at some unspecified point in the future when conditions are met and all allies agree. President Zelensky expressed his frustration with NATO’s indecisiveness and weakness on social media. He criticized the fact that no specific time frame was set for the invitation or for Ukraine’s potential membership.
However, Zelensky seemed to soften his stance after receiving backlash from the US delegation. It was reported that the US delegation was furious with his criticisms. As a result, Zelensky adjusted his tone and became less confrontational.
In conclusion, the EU’s decision not to invite Zelensky to the summit with Latin American leaders is seen as a potentially significant snub to Ukraine. However, Ukraine is still expected to be a prominent topic of discussion at the summit, and the EU is pushing for condemnation of Russia’s actions in Ukraine. NATO’s recent decision regarding Ukraine’s membership timeline has also contributed to the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and its Western allies.
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